Plastic packaging has the advantages of light weight, corrosion resistance, low cost, long service life and easy processing, a few grams of plastic film can not only ensure the safe transportation of products from manufacturers to consumers, extend the shelf life of food, but also easy to use, more adapt to today's consumption habits. The use of plastic in food packaging materials has exceeded 50%, becoming the most important packaging material. But unfortunately, the safety of plastic packaging seems difficult to be guaranteed, which may bring food safety problems or environmental pollution problems. So is the plastic food packaging currently on the market safe? Let's take a look.
1. Material safety
Food packaging should use plastic materials that meet national or international food safety standards. For example, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), etc., are generally considered safe because they do not easily release harmful substances under normal conditions of use.
Additives and dyes: Antioxidants, stabilizers, plasticizers, etc. may be added to plastics, and these additives must meet food safety requirements. Dyes and pigments should also be non-toxic and will not migrate upon contact with food.
Temperature and time factors: When food packaging materials are exposed to food at high temperatures or for a long time, there may be more chemical migration. Therefore, packaging materials should be able to withstand temperature changes during food processing and storage.
Regulatory compliance: The production and use of food packaging materials must comply with relevant food safety regulations and standards, such as the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Union Food Contact Materials Regulation (EU No 10/2011), etc.
In addition, the safety of plastic materials for food packaging depends on the raw materials and additives used in their production process. Some plastic additives may migrate into food when they come into contact with food, especially in high temperatures or acid-alkaline environments, and this migration may be intensified.
The safety of plastic food packaging materials is a multi-faceted consideration involving the selection of materials, the use of additives, migration testing, temperature and time management, regulatory compliance, and environmental impact. Through strict compliance with food safety standards and proper risk assessment, the safety of plastic food packaging materials can be ensured, the health of consumers can be protected, and the impact on the environment can be reduced.
2. Applicability issue
Not all plastic packaging is suitable for storing all types of food, and its suitability does depend on a number of factors, including the type of plastic, the production process, the formula, and the characteristics of the food being packaged. Not all plastic packaging is suitable for storing all types of food, because different foods have different requirements for packaging materials, especially in terms of chemical stability and safety.
Chemical stability:
Beverage bottles are usually made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is designed with water permeability and gas barrier properties in mind, as well as compatibility with beverage ingredients. However, sauces, vinegars, oils and other seasonings may have strong acid-alkaline or oily properties, which may cause additives in PET materials (such as antioxidants, stabilizers, etc.) to migrate into food under long-term exposure, which may lead to the release of harmful plastic additives, thereby affecting food safety.
Production process and formula:
The production process and formulation of beverage bottles are designed for specific types of beverages, the purpose of which is to ensure the compatibility of packaging materials with beverage ingredients. When these bottles are used to package other types of food, they may cause material degradation or additive release because the chemical properties of the food do not match the original design.
Therefore, in order to ensure food safety and consumer health, the appropriate plastic packaging materials should be selected according to the characteristics of food and packaging requirements. Avoid unsuitable plastic packaging for specific types of food.
3. Regulation and standards
In order to ensure the safety of plastic food packaging, the state and industry organizations have developed a series of relevant standards and norms. Compliant plastic products for food contact should undergo rigorous safety assessment and testing to ensure that they do not affect food safety during use.
4. Consumer choice
When choosing plastic food packaging, consumers should try to choose products that meet national standards, and pay attention to the instructions and warning information on the product label. In addition, try to avoid using plastic containers for food under high temperature conditions, and avoid storing food for long periods of time to reduce the risk of chemical migration.
In general, the safety of plastic food packaging depends on a variety of factors, including the choice of material, production process, conditions of use, and compliance with relevant safety standards. Consumers should be cautious when using plastic food packaging and follow the correct usage guidelines to ensure food safety. At the same time, regulators and industry organizations should continue to monitor and evaluate the safety of plastic food packaging to ensure that public health is not at risk.
