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Investigation into the applications of food contact laminated materials; examination of migration potential and recommendations for safe use

Project Code: A03034

08/08/2003

Rapra Technology
Sidwell, J ; Barber, M; Cope, R

Most flexible packaging, used in contact with food, has a laminate structure. This is due to demands to reduce pack weight, to improve physical properties such as strength and tear, to control the atmosphere surrounding the food. If the materials in the laminate differ in terms of polymer type, then in most cases adhesive tie-layers are required to bond the different layers together (adhesive laminating). The adhesive formulations used represent a chemistry that is chosen to withstand the processing and distribution environment of the filled product. Adhesives polymerise and/or cross-link when applied.

Although adhesive layers in laminates are behind a barrier layer of the food contacting plastic, there exists the possibility that components of the adhesive could permeate from the adhesive, through the plastic, into food. The aims of this project are to:

Review the composition and applications of multi-layer plastic packaging and laminated materials used in different UK food-contact sectors
Review the composition and applications of active packaging in the UK
Review the manufacturing processes used for producing laminated materials.
Identify potential migration risk situations from the above research.
Provide validated migration data from representative test samples into food simulants and food

Final Report

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