Food Contact Chemicals: Navigating Safety and Sustainability

Food adulteration is a huge problem the world is facing, and there are plenty of reasons for it, including adding harmful substances as preservatives to keep food preserved for months or adding profits. However, those ways seem intentional, but food contact chemicals or FCCs are substances that can adulterate the food. The food industry uses these chemicals to ensure the functionality and safety of food contact materials that contact the food during storage, processing, production, or packaging, directly or indirectly. The FCCs are used to extend shelf life and maintain the quality of food by making materials better and preventing spoilage and contamination with durability. But does that really serve the purpose? The blog delves deeper into it regarding the potential health risks, regulatory standards, challenges, and innovation. 

Relevance of FCC in the Current Era 

The present era is witnessing intensifying consumer awareness regarding sustainable food items, a staggering focus on sustainable materials, and growing global regulations. Problems, including food packaging environmental footprint, toxicological impacts, and chemical migration, have now become Achilles heels for consumers, manufacturers, and regulators alike. 

Know About Food Contact Chemicals

FCCs are types of chemicals that can traverse from surfaces or materials during food handling stages. The navigation can take place during processing, storage, or production. 

Different Types of FCCs

• Coatings and Surfaces: Varnishes, non-stick coatings, and printing inks that are important for branding in food packaging and functionality
• Additives: Antioxidants, stabilizers, and plasticizers that improve the properties of packaging materials, such as resistance, flexibility, and longevity
• Processing Aids: Lubricants, emulsifiers, and detergents used in food production equipment to ensure smooth operation and prevent contamination

Primary Applications of FCC

Food contact materials are found in a plethora of applications across the globe for various purposes:- 

• Storage Containers: These include metal tins, glass jars, and plastic tubs
• Food Processing Equipment: Distinguishing types of machinery used during processing food products and manufacturing them.
• Utensils and Kitchenware: Stainless steel cutlery, non-stick pans, and silicone molds
• Packaging Materials: Plastic wraps, metal cans, and laminated cartons

Categories of Food Contact Chemicals

Polymers and Plastics 

Food packaging is witnessing the wide use of plastics like PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PE (polyethylene), and PP (polypropylene), which are all a result of their versatility. Additives like plasticizers improve their flexibility, and stabilizers prevent degradation. However, concerns and problems around chemical migration and microplastics remain. 

Paperboard and Paper

Paper-based packaging is often backed by inks and coatings to enhance printability and barrier properties. Notably, to avoid contamination, the chemicals used must follow safety standards. 

Metals and Alloys

Tinplate, aluminum, and stainless steel are used comprehensively in cookware, cans, and utensils. These metals may be recyclable and durable, but the leaching of dangerous substances like cadmium or lead needs careful monitoring. 

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

PFAS have non-stick and water-resistant properties that make them usable. Following the potential health perils and the environment, PFAS is facing increased regulatory action and probes. 

Glass

Glass is considered the safest material for food preservation and storage; however, due to the use of additives on tempered glasses that are used in colors adulterate food, especially during extreme conditions. 

Rubber and Silicone

Due to their heat resistance and flexibility, food-safe rubber and silicone are used in gaskets, seals, and bakeware. Ensuring these materials are free from harmful additives is crucial for food safety.

Other Materials

Besides the materials mentioned above, biodegradable plastics, wax-coated paper, and plant-based polymers are finding takers for their sustainable quality. However, it is important to ensure no chemical is applied over them, or else that will dissolve the purpose. 

Chemical Migration and Its Perils

When the harmful chemicals or substances of food contact materials transfer into food, that process is referred to as chemical migration. This process is triggered by the following:

• Material Composition: The permeability of the material and the makeup of the chemical determine the potential of migration
• Temperature and Duration: The migration may find its course due to longer storage duration and exposure to high temperatures
• Types of Food: The potential for chemical migration may increase with packaging materials if the food is fatty, liquid, or acidic.

Potential Risks

Health Hazards: Chemical exposure to food can cause plenty of health issues, including phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and heavy metals that can potentially cause cancer or disrupt hormonal functionality in a person’s body

Contamination in Flavour and Odor: Migration can alter the taste and smell of food, affecting its quality

Safety and Toxicity of Food Contact Chemicals

While food contact chemicals are extensively used in almost every food-related industry, regulatory agencies are slowly catching up through toxicological studies and migration tests to determine people’s safety. This involves assessing the chemical’s behavior, exposure levels, and potential health impacts.

Toxicological Considerations

• Endocrine Disruption: Evaluation of substances that can potentially interfere with hormonal systems and cause severe problems for humans
• Carcinogenicity: Identifying chemicals that can cause cancer using long-term research and studies
• Neurotoxicity: Probing chemicals that may be injurious to the nervous system, precisely in vulnerable populations

Recent Concerns

The safety challenges have heightened due to the rise of materials, including microplastics, bioplastics, and nanomaterials. These materials require updated evaluation methods and regulatory oversight.

Regulatory Framework for Food Contact Chemicals

Global Regulatory Bodies

There are regulatory bodies that are constantly looking into the FCCs and their impact on the environment and humans. Here are some of them:-

• FDA (U.S.): It looks into Food Contact Substance (FCS), manages notifications, and enforces migration limits based on the requirements
• EFSA (Europe): It gets into comprehensive risk assessments and determines material standards
• Health Canada: It executes stringent safety protocols for FCCs
• Other National Bodies: Nations like Australia and Japan have developed strong regulatory frameworks for FCCs

Major Regulations

• FCS Notification: This is the quintessential process for approving new chemicals in the United States
• Positive Lists and Bans: Regulatory mentions categorizing prohibited and approved substances for food contact
• Migration Limits: It ensures certain limits on the amount of chemicals that can migrate into food

Compliance and Testing Requirements

A series of compliance and testing requirements are needed for FCCs:-

1. Migration Testing Methods: Under several circumstances and conditions, techniques like simulation with food models and liquid-liquid extraction must be deployed to identify migration potential.
2. Pre-market Testing: Pre-market testing is essential for manufacturers to maintain quality. It includes toxicity tests and migration before FCCs can be approved for use.
3. Third-party Certification: Third-party certifications are vital to ensure a layer of safety:

• FDA’s GRAS Status: It identifies chemicals that are regarded as safe to use based on evidence
• ISO Standards: International certifications like ISO 22000 verify compliance with food safety management systems

Innovations and Emerging Trends

Biodegradable and Eco-friendly Alternatives

The requirement for sustainability and innovation has pushed boundaries to develop plant-based plastics and biodegradable materials to minimize environmental impact without compromising safety. These materials also push the agenda for the circular economy. 

Smart Packaging

Real-time food monitoring can be done to maintain food quality with technologies like sensors and RFID in smart packaging to reduce waste and enhance safety. 

Nanotechnology in Food Packaging

The effect of nanomaterials is significant as they improve properties such as barrier resistance and strength. However, for safety and regulatory purposes, careful evaluation is required. 

Challenges 

Consumer Awareness: Consumers are demanding transparency in material composition and manufacturing processes, pushing the industry toward safer practices. Thus, its swift implementation without a glitch is a challenge. 

Sustainability Challenges: Balancing the need for safe, durable materials with environmental concerns is a key challenge for the industry.

Global Harmonization: A unified global regulatory framework would simplify compliance and enhance consumer confidence in food safety. However, implementing it with finesse can be a challenge for FCCs. 

Growing Regulatory Scrutiny: Evolving standards is a major challenge that may require manufacturers to adapt quickly to avoid penalties by ensuring compliance. 

Conclusion

Food contact chemicals have become integral to the food industry and are causing a colossal problem to the health of people and the environment at equal measures. So, stringent regulatory updates and innovations are required to manage the issue and emerging challenges. The future of FCCs and their mitigation depends on transparent practices, continuous research, and collaboration among different industries and their stakeholders. Regulators and manufacturers should focus on the latest developments in FCCs to prioritize sustainable practices that serve everyone’s safety.