Abstract
Plant fiber/plastic composites (PPCs), with the benefits of low cost and easy processing, have been widely used in the production of various food contact products. They are generally considered to be economical and environmentally friendly because of their natural raw materials (plant fibers) and recommended to be one of the ideal alternatives to traditional petrochemical-based plastics. However, in addition to plastic resins and plant fibers, some indispensable additives are involved in the production process of PPCs, which may pose food safety risks. To date, excessive migration of hazardous substances (such as melamine) has been reported in some products made of PPCs, and the safety and applicability of PPCs as food contact materials need to be further studied. In this paper, the main raw materials of PPCs used for food contact are taken as the pointcut to analyze the possible hazards, sources of hazards, and existing risk management measures in various countries. The conclusion shows that PPCs used for food contact may have potential safety risks at present. However, systematic research on migration methods and safety assessment are still insufficient, and further studies are needed regarding the main safety risks and migration patterns.
Highlights
In the context of circular economy and sustainable development, countries all over the world are looking for new materials which are more environmentally friendly and economical, to replace traditional petrochemical-based plastics
Hazards in PPCs may come from plant components, synthetic resins, additives, pesticide residues, or microorganisms, of which the potential safety risk of plant fibers is the key distinction between PPCs and common plastic materials
There are still many safety problems to consider when they are applied to food contact materials
Summary
In the context of circular economy and sustainable development, countries all over the world are looking for new materials which are more environmentally friendly and economical, to replace traditional petrochemical-based plastics. As a kind of bio-based material, plant fiber, which is a renewable resource, has the characteristics of low cost, easy processing, low density, and biodegradability [6]. It is suitable for blending with starch, chitin, or other degradable materials to produce degradable food contact materials [7]. Food contact materials and products produced by blending nature plant fibers with synthetic resins may have certain safety risks. Food contact materials and products produced by blending nature p2 loafn14t fibers with synthetic resins may have certain safety risks. The second one uses plastic resins as the main raw material and plant fibers (or powders) as a filler (30~70%), which are usually processed and molded by. Considering the differences in composition and application scenarios, the above two types of products should be treated differently in risk analysis and safety assessment
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