Assessing chemical migration from plastic food packaging into food simulant by gas and liquid chromatography with high resolution mass spectrometry

Authors: Sapozhnikova, Yelena; TAYLOR, RAEGYN - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2022
Publication Date: 4/5/2022
Citation: Sapozhnikova, Y.V., Taylor, R. 2022. Assessing chemical migration from plastic food packaging into food simulant by gas and liquid chromatography with high resolution mass spectrometry. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c00736.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c00736

Interpretive Summary: Some components of food packaging can migrate into food thus investigation of chemical migration is an important part of food safety research programs. In this study, we investigated 24 unique plastic food packaging products including plastic wrap, storage bags, vacuum bags, and meat trays from different brands. The state-of-the-art high resolution accurate mass instrumentation - gas and liquid chromatographs coupled with Orbitrap mass spectrometers (MS) were used to identify migrated chemicals. Most identified migrants were internationally added substances (IAS), i.e. chemicals used in production of polymers and plastics, but others were non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), such as derivatives, by-products and degradation products of IAS. Several migrants had higher levels in meat trays and plastic wrap. These data help to improve current knowledge of the safety of chemicals in commonly used plastic food packaging.

Technical Abstract: Some components of plastic food packaging can migrate into food, and whereas migration studies of known components are required and relatively straightforward, identification of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS; unknowns) is imperative to better characterizing food safety. To this aim, migration was investigated across 24 unique plastic food packaging products including plastic wrap, storage bags, vacuum bags, and meat trays. Gas and liquid chromatography separation systems coupled with Orbitrap mass analyzers were used for comprehensive non-target screening of migrants. Tentative identifications of features were assigned by searching commercial databases (e.g., NIST, Extractables and Leachables) and filtering results based on mass accuracy (< 3 ppm), retention time indices, and mass spectral patterns. Several migrants showed elevated levels in specific food packaging types, particularly meat trays and plastic wrap, and varying degrees of migration over the 10 days. Eleven putative migrants are listed as substance of potential concern or priority hazardous substances.