Chemical Leachates from Food Contact Packaging Materials and Health Risks

Food contact packaging material should be stable and non-reactive with the food that it is in contact with, and must promote the safety of food. However, for a number of years, there has been evidence that indefinitely small amounts of chemicals could migrate or leach from food packaging materials into the foods they hold. The chemistry and toxicity of such leachates are well-known and documented; and there is a growing concern over the matter among the general public. In addition, food regulatory agencies are imposing more stringent regulations on the maximum allowable amounts of known leachates into foods in recent years. The majority of toxicity studies have revealed that trace amounts of leachates pose no immediate health problems in humans. However, studies on the effects of long-term exposure or synergistic/cumulative toxicity are still lacking. The present review provides an overview of the chemical nature and toxicity of certain leachates from various types of food contact packaging materials that are in wide use.