Polymer additives migration into food

Further studies of the effect of in vitro hydrolysis by digestive fluid simulents on the hydrolysis of polymer additives migrating into food were conducted by Fiamdani and co-workers [1]. These workers assessed the safety of polymeric plasticisers capable of migrating into food by an in vitro study of the hydrolysis of poly( 1,2-propylene adipate) by such fluids. 

The methods of analysis of polymer additives and chemicals, such as hydrocarbons, alcohols, etc., are not only restricted to the field of polymer chemistry but can also be applied for the analysis of such materials in the field of food chemistry. In addition, the analysis of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in edible oils has been of extreme importance. Polymeric packaging materials that are intended for food-contact use may contain certain additives that can migrate into the food products which are actually packaged in such products. The amounts of the additives that are permitted to migrate into food samples are controlled by government agencies in order to show... 

Two methods are used to monitor concentration and to restrict excessive use of polymer additives in contact with food quantity in the materials and specific migration hmit. If a compound degrades in a food simulant, the quantity in the material should be used. From this follows that for stability of additives it is important to establish which parameter has to be controlled. Low molecnlar weight plasticizers, such as di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, are known to migrate into food on contact. Their studies in various food simulants show that both materials are fairly stable and thus the quantity in the material is postulated to be used in screening of packaging materials. ... 

Identification and eventual determination of polymer additives is an important issue in many fields, mainly in the area of packaging materials where additive migration from food contact materials may have potential toxic effects in humans.In biomedical applications, plasticizers present in the polymer [e.g., Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in PVC] will readily leach into the liquids passing through it, particularly for lipid-containing fluids, e.g., blood. There is a great concern about the toxicity of DEHP, especially for risk groups such as... 

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