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Determination of the potential for transfer from secondary packaging to foods and development of guidelines to reduce transfer to levels of no concern

Project Code: A03027

23/07/2010

Kings College London
Jickells, S ; Croxton, R

Considerable attention has been paid to the transfer of substances from primary packaging materials to foods i.e. from the packaging material which is the immediate layer surrounding a packaged foodstuff. Less attention has been given to so-called secondary packaging i.e. materials used for packaging but which are separated from the food by a layer of primary packaging. Examples of secondary packaging are the outer cartonboard box of a breakfast cereal, where the cereal is packaged in a plastic wrapper (primary packaging) inside the box; or a corrugated board box used to transport packets of biscuits from the manufacturer to the retailer.

Currently, only primary packaging materials are tested to any great extent to ensure their safety-in-use in terms of transfer of substances. The general assumption is that there will not be significant transfer of substances from secondary packaging to food and hence, that chemical testing of the type applied to primary packaging is not required. If there is a potential for transfer, those involved in the packaging chain (packaging manufacturers, importers, food producers, distributors of food, food retailers, caterers etc.) need to be made aware of this so that they can take appropriate action.

A series of studies was carried out to evaluate the potential for transfer of substances from secondary packaging to foods, to identify the factors which are important in transfer and to develop guidelines for use by those involved in the food distribution chain to minimise transfer.

Final report

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