The article deals with the peculiarities of polymer packaging for food products, as well as the possible risks that arise in the process of use and its processing.
The Aim of the Article. Determine the toxic substances of the packaging component composition and carry out comprehensive analytical control on the content of priority pollutants to prevent adverse effects on food products, the environment, the human body, and outline the possible risks of polymeric food packaging recycling.
Methods and Materials. To identify and define the levels of chemical substances and toxic elements migration from different polymeric material types and products from them. The methods of gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, atomic absorption spectrophotometry, mass-spectrometry were applied using modern validated methods.
Results and Discussion. According to the results of the researches, it is established that a large group of chemicals gets from the polymeric packaging to the contacting media, and in some cases their number exceeds the hygienic standard – ANM (acceptable number of migration).
The increase in the number of chemicals migrating from the packaging material, as well as the levels of content of new excipients (dyes, decomposition products, impurities) that are formed after recycling of polymeric materials, is evidenced by the results of many research works.
Conclusions. Careful monitoring of the migration levels of toxic components from different types of packaging materials and products into contact media should be carried out to assess the risks and their negative effects on food and human health. At the legislative level, control over the processing of plastic packaging for food should also be realized, taking into account the possibility of the formation of new chemicals and toxic elements.
Key Words: packaging, safety, food products, risks.
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