Study of the Potential for Chemical Migration from Packaging Used for Take Away Food and Drink

Food and drink consumed outside the home forms a large and increasing part of the nation’s diet. In assessing the potential for chemical migration, the conditions of use must be considered. For take-away foods, although the period of contact is relatively short, the majority of foods are served hot, which may increase the risk of chemocal migration.
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The results of the headspace and extraction work on the packaging indicated a range of chemicals were present in the packaging materials. It is not clear, however, whether these chemicals could migrate into food. Many of the chemicals identified are not unique to packaging materials but can have other origins also. Further research would need to be designed very carefully to identify which chemicals, if any, migrate into take-away food.