engleski

Migrations of substances from synthetic and biodegradable coating in disposable cups and their safety assessment as food contact materials (FCMs)

Paper and cardboard are often used materials for packaging food products. Due to the cellulose, they easily absorb water, which is why they are coated with hydrophobic materials such as polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl alcohol or fluorocarbons in order to enable the resistance to moisture. "Disposable paper cups" are the most common representatives of this type of packaging. Since it seems that they are made only of paper, consumers are confused that they cannot be recycled. This is because the synthetic coating that is applied to the inside of the cup, so such products end up mainly in the landfill and represent a major environmental problem. Their permanent ban is being considered, and a solution is in the use of renewable and biodegradable biopolymers. Whether synthetic or biodegradable coatings, they must comply with the legal framework (Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004) in terms of health safety and quality that all materials or articles that come into direct contact wth food must provide before being placed on the market by its maximum inertness in order to exclude the transfer of the substance to the food in quantities which may endanger human health or cause unacceptable changes in the composition of the food. For this purpose, we conducted research on 10 types of disposable cups from different manufacturers to determine possible irregularities in their quality and health safety. The presence of formaldehyde above the SML and changes in sensory properties in terms of color penetration from the outer surface were determined.

paper packaging, synthetic coatings, biodegradable coatings, health safety

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