Compilation of analytical methods to determine migration kinetics of selected additives/monomers in plastics to foodstuffs

The project FOODMIGROSURE (QLRT-2001-2390) has selected several reference plastics and model migrants of different chemical and physical properties on the basis of their representativeness and relevance as food contact materials migrants. The aim is to obtain reliable information to develop analytical methods in order to estimate the consumer exposure to substances that migrate from food contact plastic materials. The present work regards the follow model migrants selected by the project: Irganox 1076, Diphenylbutadiene, Chimassorb 81, Uvitex OB, Caprola ctam, Benzophenone, Diphenyl phthalate and Bis (2-diethylhexyl) adipate. A bibliographic review of the physical and chemical properties of model migrants was made. Due to the incomplete data found, some of spectroscopic properties were evaluated in our laboratory. An extensive research of the available literature was also carried out. The conclusions of the revised literature on analytical methods in polymers, food simulants and foodstuffs can be summarized in three points: a) The literature on this subject is scant, and has done more emphasis on the results concerning, migration in simulants and amount in polymers than on food analysis. b) Analytical methods are still in the research and development stage, and no particular set of methods has attracted widespread agreement. It seems that there is not two studies that agree on the same procedure to determine a given compound in a given type of sample. c) Some of the protocols found in the literature are not described in sufficient detail to allow confident replication by other laboratories. This is a common situation in the early stage of the development of the analytical methodology. To sum up, at present it is not possible to draw up reliable analytical protocols for the determination of all the selected compounds in food. For most migrant/food combinations, any protocol drawn up on the basis of the literature, general analytical principles and experience can only be regarded as a proposal which still requires exhaustive evaluation. Within the workpackage 3a and taking in account all the compiled data, the USC has established the analytical and experimental basis for the work packages 3b and 3c. The guidelines suggested to prepare analytical procedures to determine migrants in foods are presented.