Non-intentionally Added Substances Research Articles

Non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) in recycled plastics

The demand for high quality recycled polymers in the European plastic industry is on the increase, likely due to the EU’s Plastic Strategy intended to implement the circular economy model in this sector. The problem is that there is not enough recycled plastic in the market. In terms of volume, post-consumer plastic waste could be key to meet the current and future demand. Nevertheless, a high level of contamination originated during the product’s life cycle restricts its use. The first step to change this must be identifying the undesired substances in post-consumer plastics and performing an effective risk assessment. The acquired knowledge will be fundamental for the development of innovative decontamination technologies.In this study, 134 substances including volatile and semi-volatile compounds have been identified in recycled LDPE and HDPE from domestic waste. Headspace and solvent extraction followed by GC/MS were used. The possible origin of each substance was studied. The main groups were additives, polymer and additives breakdown products, and contamination from external sources. The results suggest that recycled LDPE contains a broader number of additives and their degradation products. Some of them may cause safety concerns if reused in higher added value applications. Regarding recycled HDPE, the contaminants from the use phase are predominant creating problems such as intense odors. To reduce the number of undesired substances, it is proposed to narrow the variety of additives used in plastic manufacturing and to opt for separate waste collection systems to prevent cross-contamination with organic waste.

Evaluation of the Suitability of Mammalian In Vitro Assays to Assess the Genotoxic Potential of Food Contact Materials.

Background: Non-targeted screening of food contact materials (FCM) for non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) reveals a great number of unknown and unidentified substances present at low concentrations. In the absence of toxicological data, the application of the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) or of EU Regulation 10/2011 requires methods able to fulfill safety threshold criteria. In this review, mammalian in vitro genotoxicity assays are analyzed for their ability to detect DNA-damaging substances at limits of biological detection (LOBD) corresponding to the appropriate safety thresholds. Results: The ability of the assays to detect genotoxic effects varies greatly between substance classes. Especially for direct-acting mutagens, the assays lacked the ability to detect most DNA reactive substances below the threshold of 10 ppb, making them unsuitable to pick up potential genotoxicants present in FCM migrates. However, suitability for the detection of chromosomal damage or investigation of other modes of action makes them a complementary tool as part of a standard test battery aimed at giving additional information to ensure safety. Conclusion: improvements are necessary to comply with regulatory thresholds to consider mammalian genotoxicity in vitro assays to assess FCM safety.

Analytical Approaches for Analysis of Safety of Modern Food Packaging: A Review.

Nowadays, food packaging is a crucial tool for preserving food quality and has become an inseparable part of our daily life. Strong consumer demand and market trends enforce more advanced and creative forms of food packaging. New packaging development requires safety evaluations that always implicate the application of complex analytical methods. The present work reviews the development and application of new analytical methods for detection of possible food contaminants from the packaging origin on the quality and safety of fresh food. Among food contaminants migrants, set-off migrants from printing inks, polymer degradation products, and aromatic volatile compounds can be found that may compromise the safety and organoleptic properties of food. The list of possible chemical migrants is very wide and includes antioxidants, antimicrobials, intentionally added substances (IAS), non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), monomers, oligomers, and nanoparticles. All this information collected prior to the analysis will influence the type of analyzing samples and molecules (analytes) and therefore the selection of a convenient analytical method. Different analytical strategies will be discussed, including techniques for direct polymer analysis.

Ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight high resolution mass spectrometry coupled to ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography for identification of non-intentionally added substances migrating from food cans

Sealants, incorporated in the lids of food cans to ensure the can is hermetically sealed, are formulated from a wide variety of compounds. These compounds and associated non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) could migrate to the food contained in the can. In this work, ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry coupled to ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC-IM-QTOF-MS) has been used to obtain ion mobility filtered extracted ion chromatograms. Subsequently, accurate mass precursor ions and their fragments have been used to identify the compounds migrating from the sealant to the content of the cans. Moreover, the correlation between the collision cross-section (CCS) values and m/z of the compounds was used to increase the level of confidence of the identification. Seven compounds were found to have migrated to the food simulants. The compounds bis(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-methylphenyl)dicyclopentane,1-tetradecanesulfonic acid, 1-pentadecanesulfonic acid, 1-hexadecanesulfonic acid and naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid (whose migration was over the specific migration limit established by the European Regulation 10/2011/EU) were identified as NIAS in the food simulants studied.

Identification and Migration Studies of Photolytic Decomposition Products of UV-Photoinitiators in Food Packaging.

UV-curable inks, coatings, and adhesives are being increasingly used in food packaging systems. When exposed to UV energy, UV-photoinitiators (PI’s) present in the formulations produce free radicals which catalyze polymerization of monomers and pre-polymers into resins. In addition to photopolymerization, other free radical reactions occur in these systems resulting in the formation of chemically varied photolytic decomposition products, many of which are low molecular weight chemical species with high migration potential. This research conducted model experiments in which 24 commonly used PI’s were exposed to UV-energy at the typical upper limit of commercial UV-printing press conditions. UV-irradiated PI’s were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and electrospray-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in order to identify photolytic decomposition products. Subsequently, migration studies of 258 UV-cure food packaging samples were conducted using GC-MS; PI’s and photolytic decomposition products were found in nearly all samples analyzed. One hundred-thirteen photolytic decomposition products were identified. Eighteen intact PI’s and 21 photolytic decomposition products were observed as migrants from the 258 samples analyzed, and these were evaluated for frequency of occurrence and migratory concentration range. The most commonly observed PI’s were 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropiophenone and benzophenone. The most commonly observed photolytic decomposition products were 2,4,6-trimethylbenzaldehyde and 1-phenyl-2-butanone. This compilation of PI photolytic decomposition data and associated migration data will aid industry in identifying and tracing non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) in food packaging materials.

The Ubiquitous Issue of Cross-Mass Transfer: Applications to Single-Use Systems.

The leaching of chemicals by materials has been integrated into risk management procedures of many sectors where hygiene and safety are important, including food, medical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological applications. The approaches focus on direct contact and do not usually address the risk of cross-mass transfer of chemicals from one item or object to another and finally to the contacting phase (e.g., culture medium, biological fluids). Overpackaging systems, as well as secondary or ternary containers, are potentially large reservoirs of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), which can affect the final risk of contamination. This study provides a comprehensive description of the cross-mass transfer phenomena for single-use bags along the chain of value and the methodology to evaluate them numerically on laminated and assembled systems. The methodology is validated on the risk of migration i) of ϵ-caprolactam originating from the polyamide 6 internal layer of the overpackaging and ii) of nine surrogate migrants with various volatilities and polarities. The effects of imperfect contacts between items and of an air gap between them are particularly discussed and interpreted as a cutoff distance depending on the considered substance. A probabilistic description is suggested to define conservative safety-margins required to manage cross-contamination and NIAS in routine.

Ion-Mobility Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry: A Novel Technique Applied to Migration of Nonintentionally Added Substances from Polyethylene Films Intended for Use as Food Packaging.

Nontarget analysis of nonvolatile substances in complex samples is a very challenging task that requires powerful analytical techniques and experience of analyzing such samples. An extensive study was conducted in order to identify nonintentionally added substances (NIAS) migrating from 18 polyethylene (PE) samples intended to be in contact with food. The migration assays were performed in five simulants and analyzed by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled to an ion-mobility separation (IMS) quadrupole-time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometer. This experimental setup provides a novel and powerful tool for this type of nonvolatile and nontargeted analysis. Thirty-five compounds were identified, 17 of which were NIAS. Methyl and ethyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate were found to be degradation products of either Irganox 1010 or Irganox 1076. Additionally, breakdown products including hexa-heptadecanamide, N,N'-1,2-ethanediylbis- and 11-eicosenamide were identified together with impurity reaction products, e.g., dibutyl amine or compounds of unknown origin like phosphine oxide, tributyl-. Forty-five percent of the detected compounds are in the positive list contained in Regulation 10/2011/EU, and their migration values were below their specific migration limits. The risk assessment for the rest of the compounds was carried out by comparing their migration values to the maximum concentration recommended by Cramer, e.g., ethyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate and benzenepropanoic acid, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-, 1,1'-[2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediyl] ester (both class II toxicity), heptadecanamide, N,N'-1,2-ethanediylbis-, and phosphine oxide, tributyl- (both class III toxicity) were above the maximum concentration values for three samples that were migrated to ethanol 95%, and therefore, these samples are not suitable for food contact. The analytical tools and procedures used in this study are presented and discussed in detail.

Development of a rapid micro-Raman spectroscopy approach for detection of NIAS in LDPE pellets and extruded films for food packaging applications

Identification and quantification of Non Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS) at low concentrations and eventually their distribution on Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) films is an important issue. As Raman spectroscopy techniques are innovative and sensitive analytical methods and do not require pretreatment and manipulation of the sample, these were used for the identification of NIAS in LDPE pellet and films, which are commonly used for food packaging applications. The aggregation state of NIAS in LDPE were observed by Raman imaging with micrometric resolution. Four main NIAS compounds were identified in granule and film surfaces by confocal Raman spectroscopy: calcite (CaCO3), calcium sulphate (CaSO4), polystyrene (PS) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) in anatase form. By a semi-quantitative evaluation of the inorganic NIAS, 9.93 mg/kg of CaCO3, 1.62 mg/kg of CaSO4 and 0.17 mg/kg of TiO2 were estimated. The experimental findings achieved by Raman analysis were confirmed by the results obtained by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Moreover, the toxicity of the identified compounds was examined according to the Cramer rules.

In vitro intestinal digestibility of cyclic aromatic polyester oligomers from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)

ABSTRACTLinear and cyclic oligomers are unavoidable non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) present in food contact materials made from common polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyester coatings. Although polyester oligomers can migrate into fats in significant amounts in high-temperature processes such as baking or frying, little is known about their toxicological properties and their behaviour in the human gastrointestinal tract. In the present study, first indications of a possible digestibility of polyester oligomers formed from the commonly used aromatic dicarboxylic acid terephthalic acid (TPA) are provided by in vitro experiments. Three cyclic polyester oligomers originated from PET (trimer) and PBT (dimer and trimer) were extracted from the raw materials, isolated and subjected to a simulated intestinal digestion. A fast cleavage (≥75% of the initial amount) of all three cyclic oligomers into their linear counterparts was detected already within the first hour of in vitro intestinal incubation. Subsequent hydrolysis to shorter chained linear oligomers was determined especially for the PET cyclic trimer. Degradation down to the monomer TPA was not observed. In terms of risk assessment and prioritisation for non-evaluated NIAS, the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) concept is an appropriate tool. While cyclic polyester oligomers based on TPA are assigned to the TTC Cramer class III (high potential concern, exposure threshold 1.5 µg/kg body weight per day), the corresponding linear oligomers are expected to be of a lower probable toxicological concern (Cramer class I, 30 µg/kg body weight per day). A cleavage of cyclic polyester oligomers under human intestinal conditions, which was assessed to be likely by the provided in vitro experiments, could consequently affect the risk assessment on polyester oligomers.

Mutagenicity assessment of food contact material migrates with the Ames MPF assay

ABSTRACTA major challenge in the safety assessment of food contact materials (FCM) is the evaluation of unknown non-intentionally added substances (NIAS). Even though consumer exposure levels may be quantitatively low, these substances are considered to be of high toxicological concern if they act as DNA reactive mutagens. From a safety assessment perspective, it is therefore important to detect their presence in FCM migrates. The present study applied the Ames MPF assay to assess the mutagenicity of migrates obtained from 30 food contact material samples out of 3 categories: plastics, composite materials and coatings. As a food simulant, 95% ethanol (EtOH) had a superior performance to less volatile simulants when evaluating recovery rates of representative model substances in different volatility categories. To monitor possible interference of the FCM matrix with Ames MPF results, migrates were spiked with reference substances and recovery rates were established. Out of 30 samples tested, two caused significant inhibition of revertant formation in the presence of the spiking control. Overall detection limits of the applied test method were estimated by determination of the lowest effective concentrations (LEC) for 10 Ames-positive substances. Even though the current limits of detection are not sufficient to entirely fulfil regulatory and safety requirements, three out of 30 FCMs showed evidence of dose-dependent effects in the Ames MPF assay. Overall, the data obtained supported the relevance of testing FCM migrates for DNA reactive contaminants and showed the value of the Ames MPF assay for the safety assessment of FCMs.

Ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the identification of non-intentionally added substances in UV varnishes applied on food contact materials. A safety by design study

Varnishes are normally applied on printed food packaging to protect it from smearing and scratching. Moreover, they may be applied on the food contact surface in order to improve resistance towards moisture and fat. Some of the compounds that make up the varnish formulation could migrate to the food. In this work, the ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry has been used to obtain drift time-aligned mass spectra in which accurate the mass of precursor ions and their fragments are used to identify both intentionally and non-intentionally added substances (NIAS). The compound 2-propenoic acid,1,1'-[2-[[3-[2,2-bis[[(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)oxy]methyl]butoxy]-1-oxopropoxy]methyl]-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediyl] ester was identified as a NIAS formed from the varnish monomer 2-propenoic acid, 1,1'-[2-ethyl-2-[[(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)oxy]methyl]-1,3-propanediyl] ester. The compound 5, 11-diethyl-7-oxo-4,6,10,12-tetraoxopentadecane-3,13-diyl diacrylate is a NIAS derived from the varnish monomer 2-propenoic acid, 1,1'-[oxybis(methyl-2,1-ethanediyl)] ester, and was found to migrate into the food simulant tested at a level of 0.03 mg kg−1. Finally, the NIAS, 2-{2-[2-(acryloyloxy)-1-methylethoxy]-1-methylethoxy}-1-methylethyl acrylate, an impurity of a photoinitiator used for UV curing of the varnish, was identified, and its migration of 0.14 mg kg−1 exceeded the threshold established as safe for human consumption.

Non-listed Nias Exposure Assessment: Comparison of Different Tools

Food contact materials (FCMs) can contain Non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) as a result of break down, side product or impurities. NIAS can migrate into food and this might cause a risk for human health. Thus, their presence has to be evaluated, but currently there are no protocols to establish how to perform a risk assessment. Then, in this work, three different strategies to make a NIAS exposure assessment were compared: the European Food Agency Authority (EFSA) food consumption database, the Matrix Tool and the FACET tool. 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTB), an identified and quantified NIAS, was used as the case study. Differences between these tools were highlighted, but for all the strategies tested the estimated exposure to 2,4-DTB was lower than its threshold value indicating that there are no risk for the consumers.

Toward the characterisation of non-intentionally added substances migrating from polyester-polyurethane lacquers by comprehensive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technologies

Polyester-polyurethane lacquer, used to cover the inner surface of metallic food contact materials, may transfer non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) to the food. The identification of such a diversity of compounds, considered as migrating substances, requires taking advantage of complementary analytical platforms. Therefore, four types of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) couplings were investigated and compared for their abilities to identify migrating substances after acetonitrile extraction of two commercialised lacquers. In parallel, various ionisation sources, i.e. electron ionisation (EI) (70 eV and soft energies) and atmospheric-pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) as well as various mass analysers, i.e. quadrupole, time-of-flight (low and high resolution) and Orbitrap, were tested. Comparison of mass spectra with a commercial library for EI ionisation source led to the identification of two NIAS compounds, isophorone diisocyanate and 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate. Additionally, many cyclic oligoesters (four monomer units) were unambiguously identified according to supplier’s declaration on starting materials used, primarily based on the molecular ion observed by APCI mode and characteristic fragment ions. High resolution mass analysers also enhanced confidence level in such NIAS identification. One- and two-dimensional GC were also investigated for separation assessment. Although GC × GC did not reveal additional NIAS, its use provided a valuable mapping of oligomers according to monomers composition. These results were compared to our previously published LC–MS study, carried out on the same lacquer samples. This study shows that LC and GC, along with their related ionisation techniques and their own selectivity, are complementary approaches, revealing different classes of compounds covering a wide range of volatility and polarity.

Identification of unexpected chemical contaminants in baby food coming from plastic packaging migration by high resolution accurate mass spectrometry

Plastic multilayers are widely used for baby food packaging. However, it is important to consider that migration of food contact materials (FCM) into the baby food can occur. The comprehensive identification of potential migrants, including intentionally added substances (IAS) and non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), is required to assess the safety of these packaging materials. In this study, high resolution accurate mass spectrometry (HRAMS) with a data-independent acquisition method of sequential mass windows enables the detection of substances with corresponding deconvoluted fragment mass spectra. The identification of unexpected migrants present in the food simulants and in real baby food was facilitated by filtering strategies and by an in-house library. This approach has allowed the identification of 42 migrants, including eight NIAS detected for the first time. Two oligomers were quantified by means of reference standard materials at concentration levels above 0.010 mg/kg, exceeding the maximum residue levels for baby food.

Migration of oligomers from a food contact biopolymer based on polylactic acid (PLA) and polyester.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biopolymer commonly used in food packaging due to its good characteristics, similar to PET. To evaluate the safety of this material, the analysis of the non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) is required. Oligomers are NIAS and their behavior needs a deep study, especially if they migrate to the food. In this work, the analysis of the polymer and the migration to food simulants was carried out. A total dissolution/precipitation procedure was applied to PLA pellets and films, using dichloromethane and ethanol as solvent and antisolvent system respectively. The migration tests were carried out in three liquid simulants to mimic any kind of food. Since oligomers are not present in the positive list of the Directive 10/2011/EC, their concentration must be below the 0.01mg/kg of food. UPLC-QTOF-MS, with and without ion mobility (IM), was used for the analysis. Thirty-nine different PLA oligomers made of repeated monomer units of [LA] (C3H4O2) and with different structures were identified. They corresponded to cyclic oligomers with [LA]n structure and two groups of linear oligomers, one with an hydroxyl group, OH-[LA]n-H, and the other one with an ethoxy group, CH3-CH2-O-[LA]n-H. Cyclic oligomers only appeared in the material and were not present in migration solutions. Linear oligomers HO-[LA]n-H were already present in the pellets/film and they migrated in a higher extension to aqueous food simulants (EtOH 10% and AcH 3%). However, linear oligomers CH3-CH2-O-[LA]n-H were not present initially in the pellets/film, but were detected in migration to simulants with ethanol content, EtOH 95% and EtOH 10%. Furthermore, 5 cyclic polyester oligomers were identified in migration. Ethanol 95% and ethanol 10% migration solutions were also analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the presence of microstructures that could be attributed to the oligomers migration was found. They could be seen as microplastics.

Volatile non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) identified in recycled expanded polystyrene containers and their migration into food simulants

Abstract Recycled materials such as expanded polystyrene (EPS) are increasing in the food market and some hazardous chemicals may exist in recycled PS resins. Therefore, a method of solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry followed by chemometric tools applied to the data obtained allowed the identification of markers for virgin and recycled EPS. The multivariate statistical analysis was developed to characterize the profile of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in virgin and recycled EPS containers, and identify the potential VOCs markers responsible for EPS containers discrimination. A total of 99 compounds were identified in virgin and recycled EPS containers. Among these, 17 compounds contributing the most to the discrimination, were selected based on their variables importance in the projection (VIP) values, including o-xylene, acetophenone, ethylbenzene, α-ethylstyrene, 2-phenylpropenal, propylbenzene, 2-phenyl-1-propene, undecanal, benzoic acid ethyl ester, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, decanal, benzylcarboxaldehyde, isopropylbenzene, 2,4-diphenyl-1-butene, dodecanal, benzaldehyde and nonanal. To evaluate the health risk of EPS containers, migration tests from EPS containers into two food simulants (10% ethanol, 3% acetic acid) were conducted. It should be highlighted that high amount of styrene was detected. Nevertheless, analysed materials accomplish with current EU Regulation No.10/2011. The proposed method finds the differentiation markers and provides a reliable tool to discriminate virgin and recycled EPS containers, which could be an additional tool for quality control of EPS containers.

Risk assessment for migration of styrene oligomers into food from polystyrene food containers

Regulation EU 10/2011 requires a risk assessment of Non Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS) migrating into food for food contact plastics within the EU. Styrene oligomers are important potential components of NIAS in polystyrene used for food packaging and so far only dimers and trimers have been identified. They are not genotoxic in vitro, and there is good evidence that they are not endocrine disruptors. Hazard characterization to establish “safe” exposure levels is based on 1. The No Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) of 1 mg/kg bw/d in an oral rat study during pregnancy and lactation and 2. The concept of Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC). Likely human exposure is derived from 1. the concentrations of dimers and trimers in food simulants or 2. in food and 3. the probabilistic FACET exposure estimation based on dimer and trimer concentrations in polystyrene and their potential for migration. The Margin of Safety as the relation of potential consumer exposure and the “safe” exposure level was always above 1 (apart from migration with 95% ethanol which is no longer recommended as an official food simulant for overall migration into fatty food) demonstrating that dimers and trimers in PS food packaging present a low risk for consumers.

Synthesis, identification and quantification of oligomers from polyester coatings for metal packaging

Polyester can coatings protect both food and packaging from mutual contamination. Even though, can coatings may release Non-Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS) in addition to Intentionally Added Substances (IAS). As NIAS are mainly constituted by cyclic or linear side products that are formed during the polymerization process, we focused our attention on these oligomeric species of molecular weight <1000 Da. These oligomers were obtained from two different polyester resins, each synthesized from four monomers (two phthalic acids and two diols), and from the corresponding final enamel can coatings using ethanol at 95% and 50% at 60 °C for 4 h and 10 days, respectively, as food simulants. HPLC-ESI-MS analysis on the extracts allowed identifying various cyclic and linear oligomers. For the conclusive identification of the different oligomers and their isomeric structures, ad hoc standards were synthesized by acylation reaction between alkyl diols and phthaloyl chlorides. By comparison of 1H NMR spectra, linear and cyclic oligomers were characterized by finding the major presence of 2 + 2 cyclic compounds. The 16 synthesized standards, 4 linear and 12 cyclic compounds were used to establish a method for quantification of linear and cyclic oligomers in enamel migration samples by micro HPLC-high-resolution MS (HRMS). The results showed no significant differences between the amounts of cyclic oligomers extracted with both ethanol concentrations (50 and 95%) and time contact. The extracts showed only a small amount of linear compounds and a prevalence of 2 + 2 cyclic oligomers. The work shows the great importance of the synthesis of specific standards to allow exact quantification in food contact material migrates.

Evaluation of Potential Health Risk of Non-Intentionally Added Substance (NIAS) Food Contact Material

BackgroundInternational Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) recently published a guidance for conducting exposure and risk assessment for non-intentionally added substances (NIAS). With the publication ...

High-resolution mass spectrometry with data independent acquisition for the comprehensive non-targeted analysis of migrating chemicals coming from multilayer plastic packaging materials used for fruit purée and juice

EU legislation requires that chemicals migrating from food packaging into food do not endanger human health. A proper safety assessment must go further than simply testing for known ingredients used to make the packaging materials. The identification of all potential migrants, including non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), is required to assess the safety of these materials. In this study, the benefits of using LC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS equipment combined with the data-independent acquisition method SWATH (Sequential Windowed Acquisition of All THeoretical MS) have been evaluated for the identification of unexpected migrants from multilayer plastic packaging materials. Identification of non-target peaks followed by filtering strategies facilitated the comprehensive identification procedure of unexpected migrants present in the food simulants. MS and MS/MS data from the most abundant ions in the samples were processed using formula finding and searched against open chemical and spectral databases, such as ChemSpider and METLIN, combined with bibliographic search. This approach has allowed the identification of 26 potential migrants, of which 23 were NIAS. Cyclic oligomers, possibly coming from polyurethane adhesives, were the main migrants in the studied materials. Evaluation of the toxicity of the tentatively identified migrants was carried out, showing that most of them were classified in the higher toxicity class according to Cramer rules. Most of the compounds detected in this study were previously reported in other studies of NIAS migration from plastic packaging materials, except for five of the tentatively identified oligomers that were found for the first time in this study. This study shows the high potential of non-targeted approaches using high resolution accurate mass spectrometry (HRAMS) with SWATH acquisition for the characterization of food packaging materials aimed at food safety evaluation.