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Screening Tests for Visible and non-Visible Set Off

Project Code: FS231076

15/05/2012

Pira International
Lord, A

This research developed a scanner for measuring the total surface area of patches of visible set off on the food contact surface of packaging. Exposure techniques and analytical methods were developed which allowed the measurement of individual ink components on the food contact surface of packaging.

The first part of this project successfully developed a scanner capable of detecting and measuring visible set off on the food contact surface of packaging. The scanner would be suitable as a quality control test for regulators and the food packaging industry to measure set off.
The second part developed exposure techniques and analytical methods for the measurement of individual ink components which may be present on the food contact surface of packaging, as a result of set off. The ink components were photoinitiators and synergists. A list of commonly used photoinitiators and synergists was established to create a library to enable the identification and measurement of the compounds looked for in this work.
Having developed exposure techniques, the next phase of this project successfully developed a procedure for measuring non visible set off (that cannot be seen by the naked eye) using extraction solvents.

Finally, migration experiments were undertaken on a variety of foodstuffs using the specially prepared test films. These films contained known ink compositions at levels higher than would be expected in commercial applications. The objective was to promote set off to test the developed method and allow comparison of data.

This research fits into the Food Standards Agency‘s strategic aim of "safe food and healthy eating for all" and its objective of improving food safety by ensuring that the food produced or sold in the UK is safe to eat, by tackling contamination in the food chain.

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