Deciphering the complexity of the chemicals in food packaging materials using molecular networks.

Chemicals from packaging materials might be transferred into food resulting in consumer exposure. Identifying these migrated chemicals is highly challenging and crucial to perform their safety assessment, usually starting by the understanding of the chemical composition of the packaging material itself. This study explores the use of the Molecular Networking (MN) approach to support identification of the extracted chemicals. Two formulations of bioplastics were analyzed using Liquid Chromatography hyphenated to High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. Data processing and interpretation using a conventional manual method was performed as a point of comparison to understand the power of MN. Interestingly, only the MN approach facilitated the identification of unknown chemicals belonging to a novel oligomer series containing the azelaic acid monomer. The MN approach provided a faster visualization of chemical families in addition to the highlight of unrelated chemicals enabling to prioritize chemicals for further investigation improving the safety assessment of packaging materials.

A sensitive method for the determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in food and food contact material using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.

Dietary intake is the major pathway of human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Due to their generally very low concentrations in food, especially for foods of plant origin, and their toxicological relevance, demand is growing for improved selective and sensitive analytical methods for the determination of PFAS in the lower ng/kg range. The relevance is pointed out due to the fact that the European Commission has published limits of quantification (LOQs) in the lower ng/kg range for different food matrices in Recommendation (EU) 2022/1431 on the monitoring of perfluoroalkyl substances in food. For example, LOQs of 2 ng/kg for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), 1 ng/kg for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), 1 ng/kg for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and 4 ng/kg for perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) in fruit, vegetables and baby foods are required. A new, very sensitive method is presented here for the determination of 22 PFAS in food and food contact materials. The method is based on liquid-solid extraction and automated clean-up using two solid phase extraction techniques. The analytes are separated and detected by HPLC-MS/MS. A limit of detection (LOD) of 0.33 ng/kg and an LOQ of 1.0 ng/kg are attained for plant foods such as fruits and vegetables as well as for milk and baby food. For foods of animal origin such as egg, meat, fish and paper-based food contact materials an LOD of 1.6 ng/kg as well as an LOQ of 5.0 ng/kg are attained. PFOS and PFOA were the most abundant compounds in the food samples with concentration as high as 1,051 ng/kg of PFOA in sea weed samples and 772 ng/kg of PFOS in eggs samples. In food contact material samples, higher levels were found with a maximum of 310,000 ng/kg PFHxA. In sum the presented method firstly allows determination of PFAS in a wide variety of foodstuffs and paper-based food contact materials at EU-required concentration ranges.

Migration of endocrine and metabolism disrupting chemicals from plastic food packaging.

Plastics constitute a vast array of substances, with over 16000 known plastic chemicals, including intentionally and non-intentionally added substances. Thousands of chemicals, including toxic ones, are extractable from plastics, however, the extent to which these compounds migrate from everyday products into food or water remains poorly understood. This study aims to characterize the endocrine and metabolism disrupting activity, as well as the chemical composition of migrates from plastic food contact articles (FCAs) from four countries as significant sources of human exposure. Fourteen plastic FCAs covering seven polymer types with high global market shares were migrated into water and a water-ethanol mixture as food simulants according to European regulations. The migrates were analyzed using reporter gene assays for nuclear receptors relevant to human health and non-target chemical analysis to characterize the chemical composition. Chemicals migrating from each FCA interfered with at least two nuclear receptors, predominantly targeting pregnane X receptor (24/28 migrates). Moreover, peroxisome proliferator receptor gamma was activated by 19 out of 28 migrates, though mostly with lower potencies. Estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity was detected in eight and seven migrates, respectively. Fewer chemicals and less toxicity migrated into water compared to the water-ethanol mixture. However, 73 % of the 15 430 extractable chemical features also transferred into food simulants, and the water-ethanol migrates exhibited a similar toxicity prevalence compared to methanol extracts. The chemical complexity differed largely between FCAs, with 8 to 10631 chemical features migrating into food simulants. Using stepwise partial least squares regressions, we successfully narrowed down the list of potential active chemicals, identified known endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as triphenyl phosphate, and prioritized chemical features for further identification. This study demonstrates the migration of endocrine and metabolism disrupting chemicals from plastic FCAs into food simulants, rendering a migration of these compounds into food and beverages probable.

Comprehensive study of retention influencing gas chromatographic parameters affecting linear retention indices.

Retention in gas chromatographic systems has a central role in the identification of compounds even if detectors providing spectral information are used. But linear retention indices (LRI) of a single compound originating from multiple sources tend to vary greatly, probably due to differences in the experimental settings of the determinations. The effect of gas chromatographic parameters on LRI has been investigated using 41 compounds - previously identified from food contact plastics - and n-alkanes (n-C7-n-C40) used as reference series. As the reproducibility of LRIs under the same conditions is generally very good, the smallest changes in the settings often caused statistically significant, though irrelevant changes in the LRI values. Therefore, a multicriterial scoring-ranking system has been worked out to highlight the LRI value differences. Our results highlight that column length, heating rate, and film thickness can all be the reasons of the varying published LRI values. We also demonstrated that for the reproduction of LRI data, the chemistry (and not simply the polarity) of the stationary phase is crucial.

Study on the Properties of PLA- and PP-Based Films for Food Applications Incorporating Orange Peel Extract from Agricultural by-Products.

The aim of this work was to develop active packaging based on polypropylene (PP) and polylactic acid (PLA) matrices using a high value by-product extracted from orange peel as an active compound for food packaging applications. Different films with and without orange peel extract (OPE) based on PP and PLA were obtained via cast extrusion and characterized in terms of their mechanical, thermal, optical, and sealing properties. The films obtained were transparent, but when OPE was incorporated, the transmittance spectrum decreased, causing slight coloration. Mechanical properties were affected by the incorporation of OPE, as elongation at break and tensile strength increased in the cross-direction of the PP film, although the main differences found were related to the polymer itself. In addition, sealing strength also increased via the incorporation of OPE in the PP matrix. However, thermal properties were not affected by OPE in the PP matrix but slightly decreased stability in PLA. Regarding antimicrobial activity in in vitro studies, no inhibition of the growth of Listeria innocua, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus niger, or Escherichia coli was observed. Finally, antioxidant activity was observed in in vitro studies with 2,2-Diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. The results of this study showed that the obtention of materials with OPE incorporated into the PLA and PP matrix is feasible. The new materials obtained can be used for applications of oxidation-sensitive fresh products.

A Review of Antimicrobial Polymer Coatings on Steel for the Food Processing Industry.

This article will focus on the issue of protection against the pathogenic biofilm development on steel surfaces within the food sectors, highlighting steel's prominence as a material choice in these areas. Pathogenic microorganism-based biofilms present significant health hazards in the food industry. Current scientific research offers a variety of solutions to the problem of protecting metal surfaces in contact with food from the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. One promising strategy to prevent bacterial growth involves applying a polymeric layer to metal surfaces, which can function as either an antiadhesive barrier or a bactericidal agent. Thus, the review aims to thoroughly examine the application of antibacterial polymer coatings on steel, a key material in contact with food, summarizing research advancements in this field. The investigation into polymer antibacterial coatings is organized into three primary categories: antimicrobial agent-releasing coatings, contact-based antimicrobial coatings, and antifouling coatings. Antibacterial properties of the studied types of coatings are determined not only by their composition, but also by the methods for applying them to metal and coating surfaces. A review of the current literature indicates that coatings based on polymers substantially enhance the antibacterial properties of metallic surfaces. Furthermore, these coatings contribute additional benefits including improved corrosion resistance, enhanced aesthetic appeal, and the provision of unique design elements.

Threat or treat: Exposure assessment and risk characterisation of chemical contaminants in soft drinks and chocolate bars in various Polish population age groups.

In the frame of the European Food Risk Assessment (EU-FORA) fellowship programme, two studies on chemical contaminants in food matrices were carried out in Warsaw, Poland, at the Department of Food Safety and Chemical Analysis, Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology. The first study addressed health concerns about the dietary exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) contamination due to consumption of soft drink by Polish population. BPA is an organic additive used in the production of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics and because of this it is used in the internal coating of cans and in plastic bottle production. Depending on several factors, BPA can migrate from these materials to the soft drink and so, it can be ingested by consumers causing hormonal and reproductive disorders. To estimate the Polish population exposure to BPA, several soft drinks belonging to different brands were purchased from a supermarket in the city of Warsaw and analysed. The result of the analysis highlight that mean BPA exposure in the Polish population exceeds the tolerable daily intake proposed by the EFSA scientific opinion, raising health concerns. On the other hand, the second study, focused on cadmium exposure due to chocolate consumption by Polish population, did not raise any health concern. Cadmium is a heavy metal that naturally occurs in its inorganic form in the environment and its presence in chocolate derives only from the cocoa beans and not from contamination during processing. Its accumulation in the human body can create several adverse effects, including renal dysfunction and failure. To estimate the Polish population exposure to cadmium, several chocolate bars were purchased from a supermarket in the city of Warsaw and analysed. The results of the analysis show that cadmium exposure in the Polish population does not exceed the tolerable weekly intake proposed by the EFSA scientific opinion.

A molecularly imprinted polymer monolithic column with dual template and bifunctional monomers for selective extraction and simultaneous determination of eight phenolics from polycarbonate cups.

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) monolithic column was prepared in situ in a pipette tip using phenol and bisphenol A as dual templates, 4-vinyl pyridine and ß-cyclodextrin as bifunctional monomers. It was used for the selective and simultaneous solid phase extraction of eight phenolics, including phenol, m-cresol, p-tert-butylphenol, bisphenol A, bisphenol B, bisphenol E, bisphenol Z, and bisphenol AP. The MIP monolithic column was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and nitrogen adsorption experiment. The results of selective adsorption experiments showed that the MIP monolithic column can selective recognize the phenolics and have excellent adsorption property. The imprinting factor for bisphenol A can be as high as 4.31, and the maximum adsorption capacity for bisphenol Z can reach 201.66 mg g-1. Under the optimal extraction conditions, a selective and simultaneous extraction and determination method for eight phenolics was established based on the MIP monolithic column and high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The linear ranges (LRs) of the eight phenolics were 0.5-200 µg L-1, the limits of quantification (LOQs) and detection (LODs) were 0.5-2.0 µg L-1 and 0.15-0.67 µg L-1. The method was applied to detect the migration quantity of the eight phenolics from polycarbonate cups and had satisfactory recovery. The method has the advantages of simple synthesis, short extraction time, as well as good repeatability and reproducibility, which provides a sensitive and reliable strategy for extracting and detecting phenolics from food contact material.

Effect of an aluminum foil-processed diet on internal human aluminum burden.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Aluminum can be released into food by aluminum-containing food-contact materials (Al-FCM) during preparation or storage. There is considerable concern that extra aluminum intake may have negative effects on public health, especially with regard to its high background exposure and neurotoxic properties of aluminum in high exposures. Human in-vivo data on the additional aluminum load from Al-FCM, however, are lacking. As such, the objective of this study was to explore whether the consumption of a diet highly exposed to such products leads to an increased systemic Al load in real-world conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An exploratory, single-arm intervention study with a partially standardized diet was designed and carried out with 11participants. The same 10-day sequence of dishes was repeated three times. Participants were exposed to Al-FCM from Days 11 to 20, whereas control-phase meals were prepared without Al-FCM during the first and last 10-day periods. Spot urine samples were collected each morning and evening and analyzed for their aluminum concentration; appropriate contamination countermeasures were taken. PRINCIPAL RESULTS: Urinary aluminum excretion showed a strong dependency on the creatinine concentration in urine and required adjustment in further analyses. The creatinine-adjusted aluminum excretion during the exposure phase (median 1.98 µg/g creatinine) was higher than in both control phases (1.78 µg/g creatinine each). Two different mixed-effects regression models showed a significant effect in the exposure phase. Considering a discrete time effect, the creatinine-adjusted mean increase in the exposure phase was estimated to be 0.19 µg/L (95% CI: 0.07-0.31; p = 0.0017). MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a measurable but fully reversible additional Al burden in humans from subacute Al-FCM exposure under real-world conditions. The estimated increase from Al-FCM corresponds to 8% of the baseline concentration. These data enable a more robust assessment of human health risks by Al-FCM.

Novel Antibacterial Metals as Food Contact Materials: A Review.

Food contamination caused by microorganisms is a significant issue in the food field that not only affects the shelf life of food, but also threatens human health, causing huge economic losses. Considering that the materials in direct or indirect contact with food are important carriers and vectors of microorganisms, the development of antibacterial food contact materials is an important coping strategy. However, different antibacterial agents, manufacturing methods, and material characteristics have brought great challenges to the antibacterial effectiveness, durability, and component migration associated with the use security of materials. Therefore, this review focused on the most widely used metal-type food contact materials and comprehensively presents the research progress regarding antibacterial food contact materials, hoping to provide references for exploring novel antibacterial food contact materials.

Risk assessment of eighteen elements leaching from ceramic tableware in China.

Ceramic products are among the most frequently used food contact materials. Health risks associated with ceramic tableware usually arise from the migration of heavy metals. In this study, 767 pieces of ceramic tableware of different shapes and types were collected across China, and the migration levels of 18 elements were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Migration tests were conducted according to the Chinese National Food Safety Standard - Ceramic Ware (GB 4806.4) with microwaveable and non-microwavable samples under different conditions. The food consumption of consumers via different shapes of ceramic tableware was obtained through a self-reported web-based survey, and the estimated dietary intakes of the studied elements were calculated accordingly. The exposure assessment showed that certain metals leached from the ceramic tableware at levels of concern. In addition, the applicability of the migration experiment conditions for microwaveable ceramic ware in GB 4806.4 needs to be further investigated.

Capability of Copper Hydroxy Nitrate (Cu2(OH)3NO3) as an Additive to Develop Antibacterial Polymer Contact Surfaces: Potential for Food Packaging Applications.

The globalization of the market, as well as the increasing world population, which require a higher demand for food products, pose a great challenge to ensure food safety and prevent food loss and waste. In this sense, active materials with antibacterial properties are an important alternative in the prolongation of shelf life and ensuring food safety. In this work, the ability of copper(II) hydroxy nitrate (CuHS) to obtain antibacterial films based on low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polylactic acid (PLA), was evaluated. The thermal properties of the composites, evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), showed that the concentrations of added CuHS do not particularly change these characteristics with respect to the neat polymer matrix films. The mechanical properties, determined using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMTA), indicate a small increase in the brittleness of the material in PLA-based composites. The antibacterial properties against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica were evaluated using a surface contact test, and a bacterial reduction of at least 8 to 9 logarithmic units for the composites with 0.3% CuHS, both in LDPE and PLA and against both bacteria, were achieved. The reusability of the composite films after their first use demonstrated a higher stability against Listeria monocytogenes. The migration and cytotoxicity of the composites loaded with 0.3% CuHS was evaluated, demonstrating the safety of these materials, which reinforces their potential use in food packaging applications.

Risk assessment of bisphenol related compounds in canned convenience foods, olives, olive oil, and canned soft drinks in Turkey.

The presence of Bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether (BADGE), and their derivatives in seventy-nine samples of food products available in Turkish stores was determined using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Among Bisphenol A and its analogues, BPA was the most detected migrant with 56.97%. Fish products had the highest level of BPA with 0.102 mg/kg although only three fish samples exceeded the Specific Migration Limit (SML) for BPA of 0.05 mg/kg of food. The BPF, BPS, and BPB in all analyzed foods ranged between 0-0.021, 0-0.036, and 0.072 mg/kg, respectively. BADGE derivates, BADGE·2H2O and cyclo-di-BADGE (CdB) were present in 57 and 52 samples with concentrations ranging between 0-0.354, and 0-1.056 mg/kg, respectively. All the analyzed traditional Turkish ready-to-eat meals and fish products were contaminated with BADGE·2H2O and CdB. The overall levels of BADGE and the derivates were below the specific migration limit. CdB was found at higher concentrations in traditional Turkish ready-to-eat meals, up to 1.056 mg/kg. The CdB concentration in most of the samples was above the highest figure with 0.05 mg/kg authorized by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. The predominant chlorinated derivative was BADGE·H2O·HCl which was found in thirty-seven samples in the range of 0.007-0.061 mg/kg.

Food Thermal Labels are a Source of Dietary Exposure to Bisphenol S and Other Color Developers.

To test the hypothesis that migration from the thermal labels on plastic film packaging is a major source of exposure to bisphenols and alternative color developers in food, we analyzed 140 packaging materials from packaged fresh food purchased in North America. No bisphenol A (BPA) was detected in either the packaging samples or thermal labels. However, significant amounts of bisphenol S (BPS) and alternative color developers (up to 214 µg/cm2) were present in thermal labels; their relative occurrence varied among stores. In a controlled experiment, we wrapped fish in film with a thermal label for 5 days at 4 °C. The fish in contact with the label contained BPS (≤1140 ng/g wet weight [ww]), 4-hydroxyphenyl 4-isoprooxyphenylsulfone (D-8) (≤230 ng/g ww), bis(2-chloroethyl)ether-4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone monomer (D-90) (≤3.41 ng/g ww), and/or Pergafast-201 (≤1.87 ng/g ww). The corresponding film samples were then tested using migration cells for 10 days; significantly higher BPS migration was observed systematically from the films with thermal labels compared to plain films. This study provides evidence, for the first time, that BPS and alternative thermal label color developers migrate from packaging materials into food. Further, BPS migration significantly exceeded the European Union Specific Migration Limit (50 ng/g ww), suggesting that further risk assessment studies are warranted.

Interlaboratory Study to Evaluate a Testing Protocol for the Safety of Food Packaging Coatings.

According to European regulations, migration from food packaging must be safe. However, currently, there is no consensus on how to evaluate its safety, especially for non-intentionally added substances (NIAS). The intensive and laborious approach, involving identification and then quantification of all migrating substances followed by a toxicological evaluation, is not practical or feasible. In alignment with the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) and the European Union (EU) guidelines on packaging materials, efforts are focused on combining data from analytics, bioassays and in silico toxicology approaches for the risk assessment of packaging materials. Advancement of non-targeted screening approaches using both analytical methods and in vitro bioassays is key. A protocol was developed for the chemical and biological screening of migrants from coated metal packaging materials. This protocol includes guidance on sample preparation, migrant simulation, chemical analysis using liquid chromatography (LC-MS) and validated bioassays covering endocrine activity, genotoxicity and metabolism-related targets. An inter-laboratory study was set-up to evaluate the consistency in biological activity and analytical results generated between three independent laboratories applying the developed protocol and guidance. Coated packaging metal panels were used in this case study. In general, the inter-laboratory chemical analysis and bioassay results displayed acceptable consistency between laboratories, but technical differences led to different data interpretations (e.g., cytotoxicity, cell passages, chemical analysis). The study observations with the greatest impact on the quality of the data and ultimately resulting in discrepancies in the results are given and suggestions for improvement of the protocol are made (e.g., sample preparation, chemical analysis approaches). Finally, there was agreement on the need for an aligned protocol to be utilized by qualified laboratories for chemical and biological analyses, following best practices and guidance for packaging safety assessment of intentionally added substances (IAS) and NIAS to avoid inconsistency in data and the final interpretation.

Chemical contaminants in canned food and can-packaged food: a review.

Canning, as a preservation technique, is widely used to extend the shelf life as well as to maintain the quality of perishable foods. During the canning process, most of the microorganisms are killed, reducing their impact on food quality and safety. However, the presence of a range of undesirable chemical contaminants has been reported in canned foods and in relation to the canning process. The present review provides an overview of these chemical contaminants, including metals, polymeric contaminants and biogenic amine contaminants. They have various origins, including migration from the can materials, formation during the canning process, or contamination during steps required prior to canning (e.g. the disinfection step). Some other can-packaged foods (e.g. beverages or milk powder), which are not canned foods by definition, were also discussed in this review, as they have been frequently studied simultaneously with canned foods in terms of contamination. The occurrence of these contaminants, the analytical techniques involved, and the factors influencing the presence of these contaminants in canned food and can-packaged food are summarized and discussed.

Occurrence and migration study of chemicals from baking paper and aluminium foil.

The present work focused on the development of an analytical method suitable to study the presence and the release of organophosphate esters (OPEs) and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFASs) from food contact materials (FCMs), from baking paper and aluminium foil. Although these classes of compounds are attracting increasing attention due to their toxicity the knowledge is still insufficient. The extent of their migration from FCMs to food was estimated using different liquid simulants. Ethanol 95 % was used to simulate the contact with fatty food, whilst acetic acid 3 % to mime contact with acidic aqueous-based food and the contact mode involved the use of the ultrasound-assisted technique. Preliminary results showed the higher migration for baking paper samples in contact with aqueous simulant with contaminations in the ranges 78.30-413.21 ng/dm2 and 1.43-13.87 ng/dm2 for OPEs and PFASs respectively. These findings highlighting the need to monitor particularly OPEs in FCMs.

Antibacterial Capability of MXene (Ti3C2Tx) to Produce PLA Active Contact Surfaces for Food Packaging Applications.

The globalization of the market and the increase of the global population that requires a higher demand of food products superimposes a big challenge to ensure food safety. In this sense, a common strategy to extend the shelf life and save life of food products is by avoiding bacterial contamination. For this, the development of antibacterial contact surfaces is an urgent need to fulfil the above-mentioned strategy. In this work, the role of MXene (Ti3C2Tx) in providing antibacterial contact surfaces was studied through the creation of composite films from polylactic acid (PLA), as the chosen polymeric matrix. The developed PLA/MXene films maintained the thermal and mechanical properties of PLA and also presented the attractive antibacterial properties of MXene. The composites' behaviour against two representative foodborne bacteria was studied: Listeria mono-cytogenes and Salmonella enterica (representing Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively). The composites prevented bacterial growth, and in the case of Listeria only 0.5 wt.% of MXene was necessary to reach 99.9999% bactericidal activity (six log reductions), while against Salmonella, 5 wt.% was necessary to achieve 99.999% bactericidal activity (five log reductions). Cy-totoxicity tests with fHDF/TER166 cell line showed that none of the obtained materials were cytotoxic. These results make MXene particles promising candidates for their use as additives into a polymeric matrix, useful to fabricate antibacterial contact surfaces that could prove useful for the food packaging industry.

Incorporation of Metabolic Activation in the HPTLC-SOS-Umu-C Bioassay to Detect Low Levels of Genotoxic Chemicals in Food Contact Materials.

The safety evaluation of food contact materials requires excluding mutagenicity and genotoxicity in migrates. Testing the migrates using in vitro bioassays has been proposed to address this challenge. To be fit for that purpose, bioassays must be capable of detecting very low, safety relevant concentrations of DNA-damaging substances. There is currently no bioassay compatible with such qualifications. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), coupled with the planar SOS Umu-C (p-Umu-C) bioassay, was suggested as a promising rapid test (~6 h) to detect the presence of low levels of mutagens/genotoxins in complex mixtures. The current study aimed at incorporating metabolic activation in this assay and testing it with a set of standard mutagens (4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide, aflatoxin B1, mitomycin C, benzo(a)pyrene, N-ethyl nitrourea, 2-nitrofluorene, 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene, 2-aminoanthracene and methyl methanesulfonate). An effective bioactivation protocol was developed. All tested mutagens could be detected at low concentrations (0.016 to 230 ng/band, according to substances). The calculated limits of biological detection were found to be up to 1400-fold lower than those obtained with the Ames assay. These limits are lower than the values calculated to ensure a negligeable carcinogenic risk of 10-5. They are all compatible with the threshold of toxicological concern for chemicals with alerts for mutagenicity (150 ng/person). They cannot be achieved by any other currently available test procedures. The p-Umu-C bioassay may become instrumental in the genotoxicity testing of complex mixtures such as food packaging, foods, and environmental samples.

Is the use of paper food contact materials treated with per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances safe for high-temperature applications? - Migration study in real food and food simulants.

Migration of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) from paper food contact materials (FCMs) can pose a consumer risk. However, risk assessment procedures typically do not consider PFAS contribution from FCMs. Moreover, migration studies are often limited to one subclass of PFAS or simplified by using food simulants (FS). To assess the risk comprehensively, migration of three PFAS subclasses (perfluorinated carboxylic acids/ sulfonic acids (PFCAs/PFSAs), polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters (PAPs), and fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs)) from six FCMs were investigated to FS (50% and 20% ethanol) and food (oatmeal porridge, muffins, and tomato soup) under high-temperature conditions. Migration of PFCAs and FTOHs to all food samples was observed. Migration of PFCAs and FTOHs to 50% ethanol was significantly higher than migration to real food whilst FTOHs did not migrate into 20% ethanol. Estimated dietary PFAS exposure for children (1.06 - 5.67 ng/kgbw/day) exceeded EFSA's proposed safety threshold (0.63 ng/kgbw/day), risking consumer health.