Non-target analysis of intentionally and non intentionally added substances from plastic packaging materials and their migration into food simulants

Abstract

A wide variety of compounds are used in the manufacture of plastic materials; however, some of them have the potential to migrate in food products. The main objective of this work was the identification of potential migrants in plastic packaging materials and their migration into food simulants. For this purpose, a total of twelve plastic packaging materials were analyzed using purge and trap (P&T) coupled to GC–MS for volatile compounds and GC–MS for semivolatile compounds after extraction with organic solvents. A qualitative migration tests were carried out using tenax and isooctane and the migrants were analyzed by GC–MS. About 100 different organic compounds were detected in plastic materials. Of these, 27 compounds migrated into tenax and/or isooctane. In general, migration occurs to a larger extent in tenax than in isooctane. Moreover, most of detected compounds in plastic samples are not included in the Commission Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.