Safety Verification
Verification that finished boxes and wrappers do not leach hazardous substances into food is a critical requirement for packaging converters. Achieving packaging food contact compliance involves assessing all raw materials, chemical additives and printing inks used in the converting process. This assessment must account for the specific food type and storage temperature.
The boundary of compliance is defined by the migration limits of the substances.
Analytical Testing
Laboratory analysis provides the physical proof of safety before any package enters commercial service. To establish packaging food contact compliance, laboratories expose the material to food simulants like tenax or ethanol under defined time and temperature conditions. These tests simulate the worst-case scenario of long-term storage or heating during use.
If the measured migration of monomers, plasticizers or heavy metals falls below the legally defined threshold, the packaging is deemed safe. High performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography are used to detect these trace substances.
Documentation Standard
A continuous chain of custody secures the compliance status of the package throughout the supply chain. This relies on the declaration of compliance, a legal document that passes from the paper mill to the converter and the food brand. The file lists all regulated substances and any restrictions on their use.
