Silver migration from nanosilver and a commercially available zeolite filler polyethylene composites to food simulants

Polyethylene composites containing Agion^TM commercial silver ion filler at three different percentage fill rates (0.5, 1.0 and 2% w/w) and polyethylene composites containing laboratory produced silver nanoparticles (Agnps) at two different percentage fill rates (0.1 and 0.5% w/w) underwent migration tests according to Commission Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011. Migrated silver in the two simulants (acidified water with 3% acetic acid and distilled water) was quantified using two techniques: inductively coupled atomic emission spectroscopy (ICPAES) and Hach Lange spectroscopy. The former had higher sensitivity with mean silver migration from Agion composites (n = 12) ranging from < 0.001 to 1.50 × 10^?2 mg l^–1. Mean silver migration from Agnps composites ranged from 4.65 × 10^?2 to 0.38 mg l^–1 and 8.92 × 10^?2 and 5.15 × 10^?2 mg l^–1 for Hach Lange spectrophotometry and ICPAES, respectively. Both percentage fill rate in the composite and the simulant type, as factors, were found to be significant in both silver migration from Agion (p < 0.0001 and < 0.01, respectively) and Agnps (p < 0.05 and < 0.01, respectively). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imagery showed differences in size distributions and morphology of particles (shape and degree of agglomeration) before and after migration. PE composites containing 0.5% Agion, simulating contact with non-acidic foods, was the only scenario that did not exceed the permitted migration level of non-authorised substances given in EU 10/2011. This study illustrates the need for careful engineering of the composite filler system to conform to limits with cognisance of food pH and percentage fill rate.     

Potential silver nanoparticles migration from commercially available polymeric baby products into food simulants

In recent years, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been extensively employed in food packaging systems as a potential antibacterial agent. Although proven to be highly effective, the increased number of AgNP-containing products raises concerns among consumers regarding the migration of AgNPs from the packaging material into foods, which may exert toxic effects. To address this, five baby products were chosen (baby bottle A, baby bottle B, pacifier A, pacifier B and breastmilk storage bag) to investigate AgNPs migration into three food simulants (deionised water, 4% acetic acid (w/v) and 50% ethanol (v/v)) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). As a result, the highest level of migrated Ag was observed for 4% acetic acid in the case of baby bottle B, pacifier A, pacifier B and the breastmilk storage bag, with the detection amount ranging from 1.05–2.25 ng/mL. On the other hand, baby bottle A showed the maximum migration for 50% ethanol due to the polymer nature. Finally, a centrifugal ultrafiltration experiment was conducted to determine the fraction of dissolved Ag in acidic simulant and it was found that migrated Ag was predominantly in Ag⁺ form, with a small fraction of non-ionic AgNPs. Thus, it has been found that the amount of migrated Ag in baby products was low; however, the migration was dependent on the type of food simulant and polymer nature.     

智能包装技术在食品保鲜中的应用

智能包装可以更好的对食品起到保鲜作用,已成为包装界关注的焦点。本文分析了食品的保鲜机理和智能包装的技术特点,介绍了智能包装在食品保鲜中的应用。     

Migration of fluorochemical paper additives from food-contact paper into foods and food simulants

Fluorochemical-treated paper was tested to determine the amount of migration that occurs into foods and food-simulating liquids and the characteristics of the migration. Migration characteristics of fluorochemicals from paper were examined in Miglyol, butter, water, vinegar, water-ethanol solutions, emulsions and pure oil containing small amounts of emulsifiers. Additionally, microwave popcorn and chocolate spread were used to investigate migration. Results indicate that fluorochemicals paper additives do migrate to food during actual package use. For example, we found that microwave popcorn contained 3.2 fluorochemical mg kg^-1 popcorn after popping and butter contained 0.1 mg kg^-1 after 40 days at 4°C. Tests also indicate that common food-simulating liquids for migration testing and package material evaluation might not provide an accurate indication of the amount of fluorochemical that actually migrates to food. Tests show that oil containing small amounts of an emulsifier can significantly enhance migration of a fluorochemical from paper.     

活性包装释放控制的研究进展

活性包装是以包装材料为传送载体,释放抗菌剂、抗氧化剂等保鲜剂以达到维持或改善食品品质,延长食品的货架期的包装技术。本文从释放动力学过程展开探讨,分类介绍了释放控制的四种方式:树脂基体组成、多层复合、纳米材料复合及微囊化,最后从活性包装保鲜效果评价进行释放与保鲜的关联,并提出了展望。      

食品包装油墨迁移研究进展

食品安全越来越受到广泛关注,包装材料中油墨引起的食品质量问题频频发生,本文论述国内外包装油墨安全相关的法规及要求,总结国内外油墨迁移研究现状,为今后的食品包装油墨安全提供法律依据和实验指导。     

基于壳聚糖的智能指示包装及其在食品贮藏中应用的研究进展

壳聚糖作为一种生物可降解聚合物因具有优良的包装特性和独特的抗菌性能而成为可替代传统石油基塑料的理想食品包装材料之一。同时,借鉴智能包装可以监测包装食品性状和食品周围环境的特点,使得壳聚糖基智能食品包装引起广泛的关注。本文首先简要介绍了壳聚糖的结构与来源,然后详述了壳聚糖作为食品包装材料所具备的包装性能和功能特性,最后重点阐述了指示型壳聚糖基智能食品包装在食品贮藏中的研究进展,尤其是在指示水产品、肉和肉制品及乳制品等易腐败食品新鲜度方面的应用,并对壳聚糖基智能指示包装材料的发展方向和趋势进行了展望,为基于壳聚糖的智能指示型食品包装的研发和应用提供参考。     

食品包装中增塑剂DEHP的迁移风险分析

模拟日常使用的情况设计试验条件,研究食品包装材料中邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己)酯(DEHP)迁移到食品中的风险规律。试验结果表明:DEHP增塑剂的迁出量随着迁移时间的增加而增加,180min以后迁出量趋于稳定;40℃下迁移出的增塑剂的量比4℃和20℃下大大增加;与橄榄油相比,正己烷是一种较苛刻的迁移模拟物,同等条件下迁入正己烷中的增塑剂要比迁入橄榄油中的多;迁移过程的振荡也会大大提高迁移效率。     

国内外纸塑复合食品包装材料安全法规的现状

纸塑复合食品包装材料因其便利性而得到广泛应用,但纸、塑料以及印刷油墨、胶粘剂中的小分子化学残留物通常会迁移到食品中,造成食品污染并威胁到消费者的健康。本文论述了美国FDA、欧盟EC及中国的纸塑复合食品包装材料的相关法律法规,重点对法规中规定的需检测的有害物质进行了论述,介绍了FDA规定的间接食品添加剂、"阀值管理"方式、EC规定的重金属迁移量指标以及中国针对塑料、纸和具体产品的相应规定。     

除氧功能性材料在食品保鲜领域研究进展

除氧功能性材料（除氧剂、除氧包装）具有降低包装内部氧气含量,建立低氧微环境的作用,对于延长食品货架期、保障食品安全具有重要的研究价值与应用潜力。基于除氧功能性材料物理特性的多样性,依据除氧材料的除氧作用方式不同,分类介绍了各类除氧剂、除氧薄膜及其除氧作用机理,分析了各类除氧材料在除氧功效方面存在的差异,比较了目前常用薄膜制备技术的优缺点,综述了国内外在除氧功能性材料研发领域的研究进展和在食品中的应用,总结并展望了基于除氧功能性材料在食品保鲜领域面临的挑战和发展趋势,为及时了解新型食品功能材料的研究现状,推动食品除氧材料的技术创新与应用提供参考。     

Migration of silver from commercial plastic food containers and implications for consumer exposure assessment

Food storage containers with embedded silver as an antibacterial agent promise longer durability of food. For risk assessment the release of this silver into the stored food and resulting human exposure need to be known. For the purpose of exposure assessment, silver migration from commercial plastic containers with declared content of ‘nano-’ or ‘micro-silver’ into different food simulants (water, 10% ethanol, 3% acetic acid, olive oil) was quantitatively determined by ICP-MS and the form of the released silver was investigated. The highest migration of silver was observed for the acidic food simulant with 30 ng silver cm^?2 contact surface within 10 days at 20°C. In a second and third use cycle, migration dropped by a factor of up to 10, so that the maximum cumulated release over three use cycles was 34 ng cm^?2. The silver release over time was described using a power function and a numerical model that simulates Fickian diffusion through the plastic material. The released silver was found to be in ionic form, but also in the form of silver nanoparticles (around 12%). Consumer exposure to the total amount of silver released from the food containers is low in comparison with the background silver exposure of the general population, but since natural background concentrations are only known for ionic silver, the exposure to silver nanoparticles is not directly comparable with a safe background level.     

Trends in microbial control techniques for poultry products

Fresh poultry meat and poultry products are highly perishable foods and high potential sources of human infection due to the presence of several foodborne pathogens. Focusing on the microbial control of poultry products, the food industry generally implements numerous preventive measures based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) food safety management system certification together with technological steps, such as refrigeration coupled to modified atmosphere packaging that are able to control identified potential microbial hazards during food processing. However, in recent years, to meet the demand of consumers for minimally processed, high-quality, and additive-free foods, technologies are emerging associated with nonthermal microbial inactivation, such as high hydrostatic pressure, irradiation, and natural alternatives, such as biopreservation or the incorporation of natural preservatives in packaging materials. These technologies are discussed throughout this article, emphasizing their pros and cons regarding the control of poultry microbiota and their effects on poultry sensory properties. The discussion for each of the preservation techniques mentioned will be provided with as much detail as the data and studies provided in the literature for poultry meat and products allow. These new approaches, on their own, have proved to be effective against a wide range of microorganisms in poultry meat. However, since some of these emergent technologies still do not have full consumer's acceptability and, taking into consideration the hurdle technology concept for poultry processing, it is suggested that they will be used as combined treatments or, more frequently, in combination with modified atmosphere packaging.     

Improving packaged food quality and safety. Part 1: Synchrotron X-ray analysis

The objective was to demonstrate, as an example of an application, the potential of synchrotron X-ray analysis to detect morphological alterations that can occur in barrier packaging materials and structures. These changes can affect the packaging barrier characteristics when conventional food preservation treatments are applied to packaged food. The paper presents the results of a number of experiments where time-resolved combined wide-angle X-ray scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering analysis as a function of temperature and humidity were applied to ethylene-vinyl alcohol co-polymers (EVOH), polypropylene (PP)/EVOH/PP structures, aliphatic polyketone terpolymer (PK) and amorphous polyamide (aPA) materials. A comparison between conventional retorting and high-pressure processing treatments in terms of morphologic alterations are also presented for EVOH. The impact of retorting on the EVOH structure contrasts with the good behaviour of the PK during this treatment and with that of aPA. However, no significant structural changes were observed by wide-angle X-ray scattering in the EVOH structures after high-pressure processing treatment. These structural observations have also been correlated with oxygen permeability measurements that are of importance when guaranteeing the intended levels of safety and quality of packaged food.