Paperboard Food Contact Declarations and Recycled Fiber Traceability
Food contact safety for recycled board requires functional barrier proof and complete chain of custody documentation down to invoice line items.
MOAH Quantification
Analytical Assessment
Mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbon quantification determines the chemical concentration of saturated and unsaturated ring structures within paperboard substrates. Analysts utilize gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to isolate these specific hydrocarbon fractions from complex migratory substances. Migration profiles rely on the baseline weight of these components to evaluate potential contamination risks in food packaging materials.
Barrier coatings exist to mitigate the movement of such compounds from secondary fibre sources into the packaged contents.
Migration Threshold
Quantitative limits specify the maximum allowed mass of these hydrocarbon chains permitted to cross from the substrate into a food stimulant during standardized thermal testing. Regulatory bodies define these boundaries based on the total sum of aromatic rings identified within the chain length range of C10 to C50. Laboratories maintain stringent extraction protocols to ensure that high performance liquid chromatography results remain reproducible across different material grades.
Variations in the recovery rate of these chemicals introduce uncertainty into the final analytical reading. Manufacturers adjust board composition by selecting virgin pulp stocks or specific functional barriers to keep these values below the accepted ceiling.
Reporting Metric
Results indicate the total load of these substances present in the material as expressed in milligrams per kilogram of substrate weight. Consistency in the laboratory methodology guarantees that data generated during the production of recycled paper stock aligns with safety protocols for direct food contact. Precise calculation provides the evidence required to certify that material output complies with safety standards regarding mineral oil migration.