A03057: Nonylphenol in food contact plastics and migration into foods
Tuesday 22 August 2006
This research project will provide a method validated between laboratories to determine the concentration of nonylphenol in food contact materials and levels present, if any, in packaged foods.
Background
In Project A03047 a method was developed and validated in-house to determine the presence of nonylphenol in a range of different materials used in contact with food. The method, based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and internally standardised by 13C-labelling, is capable of detecting ppm (1 in 106) or possibly ppb (1 in 109) levels of nonylphenol if present in plastics, rubbers or paper.
Further validation of this method is now required, concentrating on selected materials and involving a check exercise with a second laboratory. The validated method will be used to consider the variation in occurrence and concentration of nonylphenol in selected materials, taking into account methods of manufacture. The work will require cautious interpretation of the results to take account of possible environmental sources of nonylphenols.
Research Approach
The method of analysis developed in FSA project A03047 will be re-established in-house and written as a standard operating procedure in CEN format. The project will use a second independent laboratory to provide further validation data for the method of analysis for the determination of nonylphenol in selected packaging materials.
Samples of plastic food packaging materials will be obtained and any nonylphenol present determined. Food concentration data will be evaluated to determine the relative contribution of migration, if any, compared to nonylphenol occurrence from other sources.