A03039: Active packaging - current trends and potential for migration

Study Duration: April 2002 to March 2004

Contractor: Central Science Laboratory

A common way to define 'active packaging' is to highlight what distinguishes it from so-called conventional ('passive') packaging. Active packaging is intended to influence the packed food. It is intended to change the condition of the packed food, to extend shelf-life or improve sensory properties while maintaining the freshness and the quality of the food. To do this, the packaging should absorb food-related chemicals or should release substances such as preservatives, antioxidants, flavourings or colours.

The scientific problem that this project tackled was; how should active packaging materials be authorised, regulated and tested. What special problems, if any, may be caused with respect to the quality and the safety of the packaged food? The project aimed to address 3 main questions:

• a) what future experimental migration work may be needed, if any;
• b) what changes to the CEN standard methods of migration testing are needed, if any;
• c) what aspects of active packaging should be considered by other legislative sectors, e.g. by those dealing with direct food additives, food authenticity and food labelling.

The objectives of the project were achieved by:

• Reviewing the published literature.
• Examining and evaluating the trade press and product information from companies involved in this sector.
• Reviewing the existing migration test protocols available from the European Standards Organisation (CEN).
• Holding discussions with other researchers, officials and legislators in the sector.

The related issue of 'intelligent packaging' was also considered.

The present UK market for active or intelligent packaging is small. It is concluded from the research conducted, that the major impact of any wider introduction of such packaging would fall on the sectors of direct food additives, food authenticity and food labelling. For these sectors, the recommendations of this report are:

• Active ingredients (themselves or their by-products) which may become components of the food should comply with community provisions on food additives.
• Active or intelligent packaging should not mislead the consumer; for example should not contradict whatever the consumer understands by 'fresh'.
• Such packaging should be suitable and effective for the intended use.
• It should comply with Directives 92/59/EEC (general product safety), as well as 89/109/EEC, and 87/357/EEC concerning misleading and unsafe claims, because for example if spoilage indicators are scavenged then food may have spoiled but the consumer cannot detect this.

Any incidental chemical migration could be controlled using the existing legislative instruments, provided that the Framework Directive was modified to encompass such packaging. For this sector, the recommendations of this report are:

• Active or intelligent packaging should comply with the Framework Directive on food contact materials.
• Such packaging materials should comply with the existing overall migration limit, excluding the active agent released intentionally.
• Many of the active or intelligent systems rely on their active function (absorbing or releasing) operating through the gas phase. So testing for undesirable gas-phase migration should be considered.
• Existing standardised test methods should in the main be applicable to testing active and intelligent packaging for migration, although some applications may require simulants that are not liquids - for example a semi-solid food simulant with liquid absorbed onto a carrier.

The benefits of this project to the Food Standards Agency and to consumers have been that the project was conducted during a period in which the Commission of the European Union was consulting widely on proposed new Framework Regulations on Materials and Articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs. One of the proposals is that Active and Intelligent packaging systems fall within the scope of the new regulations and that specific measures should be adopted to regulate them. The activities and findings of this project have and will continue to guide the development and application of any specific measures needed to ensure that active and intelligent packaging systems are in accordance with food legislation and do not mislead the consumer.

Final report is available from the FSA Library and Information centre. To obtain a copy, please contact the Enquiry Desk, Dr Elsie Widdowson Library and Information Services, Food Standards Agency ( tel: 020 7276 8181/8182 or email: library&info@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk ).

Contact: For any enquiries concerning this research project, please contact the relevant Programme contact or email: science@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk