With increasing regulatory and public pressure to move away from single-use plastic materials (FPF reported), many businesses and consumers are switching towards single-use paper and other bio-based single-use products (FPF reported). Due to the impression of being more natural, people assume they are making a healthier choice. While many are indeed recyclable or compostable (FPF reported), many food contact paper products can still contain plastic components (FPF reported) and harmful chemicals (FPF reported). The newness of some of these bio-based products means research is still ongoing concerning chemical migration.
Giulia Simonetti from Sapienza University of Rome led a study investigating the overall concentration and migration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and organophosphate esters (OPEs) from bio-based packaging purchased in Italy. “OPEs are flame retardants and plasticizers, whereas PFASs are coating and water and grease repellents.” The researchers specifically gathered single-use products made of sugarcane bagasse or cellulose wood pulp labeled “natural”, “compostable”, or “biodegradable.” In all, they targeted twelve OPEs and 22 PFAS in two types of bowls, a plate, a cup, and three types of baking paper.
The baking papers had the highest overall levels of both PFAS and OPEs. One of the baking paper samples had a total PFAS concentration of 0.59 ± 0.04 mg/kg. One of the bowls had the lowest measured PFAS concentration at 0.05 ± 0.04 mg/kg. OPEs ranged from a concentration of 0.04 ± 0.01 (a bowl) to 0.26 ± 0.06 (another baking paper), the authors described that “baking papers are the most contaminated samples; in particular, the amount of migrated OPEs exceeds by an order of magnitude the precautionary limit of 0.01 mg kg−1.”
Simonetti et al. specifically highlighted four OPEs of concern: tributoxyethyl phosphate (TBEP, CAS 78-51-3, inhibits cell profiling); tributyl phosphate (TBP, CAS 126-73-8, a known carcinogen for rats); and triisobutyl isomer (TIBP, which based on its structure could have similar effects to TBP) were measured in all seven bio-based food contact articles. Additionally, trichlorophenyl phosphate (TCPP, CAS 13674-84-5) another potential carcinogen, was measured in six of the seven.
The experimenters used food simulants representing both aqueous and fatty foods. They found that OPEs “migrate in a comparable manner toward both food with hydrophilic and lipophilic properties, while PFASs mainly migrate toward aqueous acid food due to their more polar nature.”
The European Union is creating regulations around eco-related buzzwords in an attempt to thwart greenwashing and consumer confusion (FPF reported), which may affect how some bio-based materials are marketed in the future.
Several other studies in recent months have measured PFAS and OPEs in new and recycled paper and board food contact materials (FPF reported).
Reference:
Simonetti, G., et al. (2024). “Studies of Potential Migration of Hazardous Chemicals from Sustainable Food Contact Materials.” Foods. DOI: 10.3390/foods13050645.
