Migration testing print/inks

PAPILLOUD s and baudraz d, Migration tests for substrates printed with UV ink systems in aqueous simulants . Progress Organic Coatings, 2002 45 231-237. 

The objective of this chapter is to give an overview of the processes and problems related to prints on food packages, dealing primarily with the components of inks and their possible migration into the foodstuff. Sensory (odour and taint) aspects and testing will also be covered and statutory requirements will be discussed. 

Inks and prints are analysed in order to ensure safety. This includes testing for harmful substances with potential to migrate into food. Environmental pressure may result in a demand for testing, for example, vegetable oils versus petroleum distillates. There might also be a need to determine the content of aromatic compounds in the ink in order to avoid odour and taint problems. For chemical analysis of prints and determination of ink components a number of methods are available, such as pyrolysis, infra-red spectrometry, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Volatile compounds are usually analysed by a headspace technique. The progress in chemical analysis is so rapid that any method may be considered obsolete after a limited number of... 

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