Study examines transfer of packaging ink to food

A study published in the peer-reviewed journal Dyes and Pigments investigates the migration of printing inks from food contact materials (FCMs). The researchers studied ink migration from different multi-layer materials to two food simulants (ethanol 95% and Tenax) and also the impact of applying lacquers to the material.

A total of 24 migrants coming from inks were found to migrate from two multi-layer materials. Seventeen migrants alone were found to migrate out of a multi-layer of ink/polyethylene terephthalate/aluminum/polyethylene, due to the set-off phenomena - the unintentional transfer of ink components from the outer printed surface onto the inner, non-printed, food-contact surface.

When an external lacquer was added, the number of migrants decreased markedly, leading the authors to conclude that the application of external lacquer coating can reduce the migration of ink components into food. However, some new migrants are created by the reaction between ink and lacquer, so the composition of the chosen lacquer material is crucial.