Migration Studies To Assess the Safety in Use of a New Antioxidant Active Packaging

Abstract

Both specific and overall migration tests have been applied to new experimental food packaging-active plastic films with antioxidant properties, including in its composition a natural rosemary extract. Determination of volatile and semivolatile compounds migrating from plastic to the four established simulants showed that both specific and overall migration was very low. The results obtained gave values 20 times lower than the established limits in the worst case. So, from the point of view of health risk, the new active packaging can be considered as safe. Analytical procedure used provided the necessary information about the migration behavior, with good analytical characteristics and detection limits in the sub mug kg(-1) range. Besides, no significant difference was found between laboratory and factory-made samples, which is an important issue for industrial production, the next step in the development of the new antioxidant active film.

Characterization of physical, mechanical, and antioxidant properties of soy protein-based bioplastic films containing carboxymethylcellulose and catechin

“…An antioxidant active packaging film is prepared by introducing antioxidants into the food packaging material, instead of adding them directly to the food, to delay the auto-oxidation of the food products (14). A wide range of biocompounds, most of which are synthetic molecules, have been used as antioxidant agents incorporated into food packaging materials (15).…”

Behaviour of a new antioxidant active film versus oxidizable model compounds

“…An innovative approach with enhanced shelf life of foodstuffs while improving their quality, safety and integrity, consists of active packagings (Dawson, 2002;Nerín et al, 2006;Suppakul, Miltz, Sonneveld, & Bigger, 2003a;Tovar, Salafranca, Sánchez, & Nerín, 2005;Vermeiren, Devlieghere, van Beest, de Kruijf, & Debevere, 1999), whose extra functions are obtained by incorporating actively functional ingredients or materials into packaging systems (Han, 2002). These components are usually applied as sachets inserted into the package or as adhesive-bonded label to the inner wall of the package, in the closure or in the packaging material through dissolution or dispersion into the plastic material, or by immobilization of oxidizing enzymes in the packaging material (De Kruijf et al, 2002).…”

Active Packaging Coatings

“…Garces et al patented an antioxidant coating composed of a polymer blend that contains plant extracts that scavenge free radicals [91]. Tovar et al demonstrated that this antioxidant coating may be classified as non-migratory as it demonstrated migration that was 20 times less than the legal limits for the European Union [92]. Furthermore, this antioxidant active packaging coating derives activity from free radical scavenging in the packaging headspace, thus not requiring direct contact with the food [93][94][95].…”