Contact Protocol
Analytical procedures for evaluating packaging safety rely on the controlled contact between a material and a standardized liquid that mimics a specific category of consumables. By applying food simulant exposure under defined temperatures, laboratories replicate the extraction potential of beverages or dry foods without using actual groceries. This action ensures that testing is reproducible and that the chemical analysis remains unhindered by complex organic matrices.
Testing Mechanism
Laboratory setups use specific temperatures and durations to represent the worst case conditions of real world storage. Standard test durations can range from a few hours to several weeks, depending on whether the intention is to simulate short term heating or years of ambient storage. During food simulant exposure, the packaged substrate remains submerged or clamped in a specialized apparatus to maintain uniform contact area.
This controlled contact prevents the edge of the board from absorbing the liquid, which would otherwise distort the quantitative transfer data. Testing authorities employ aqueous solutions or organic liquids to match the chemical properties of different foods.
Migration Assessment
Chemical analysis of the liquid phase after the contact period reveals the quantity of substances that have transferred from the paper or board. High performance liquid chromatography detects tiny amounts of ink components or adhesive residues that entered the liquid during the test. These measurements determine if the substrate complies with the strict migration limits mandated for materials that touch food.
