Migration studies of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD) in polyethylene extrusion-coated paperboard food packaging.
The manufacturing process of paperboard food packaging can produce small quantities of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD or 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol) when wet-strength resins containing epichlorohydrin are used. 3-MCPD is from the same family as 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1,3-DCP), which is known to cause cancer in animals. 3-MCPD has been found in acid hydrolyzed vegetable protein, Asian sauces and paperboard for food contact. In this investigation, we conducted extraction studies to measure 3-MCPD migration into food simulant solvents from the food contact side of polyethylene extrusion-coated paperboard beverage cartons and aqueous extractions of cut pieces from the entire paperboard. We demonstrate that 3-MCPD confirmed present at concentrations up to 9.9 mg kg(-1) within the paperboard matrix does not migrate through the polyethylene-coated food contact surface. The aqueous extraction of the entire paperboard and food contact side extractions with aqueous/acidic food simulants were performed using US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Commission (EU) migration testing protocols. We also show that no significant amount of 3-MCPD migrates through the unskived edges on the inside seam of the paperboard structure. The methodology for the aqueous and migration cell extractions using GC-MS analyses was validated with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.009 mg kg(-1) and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.005 mg kg(-1).
Pace
Gregory V
GV
Department of Food Science, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA. gregory.pace@sunchemical.com
Hartman
Thomas G
TG
D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D005504:Food Analysis; D018857:Food Packaging / Q000592:standards*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005990:Glycerol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D010209:Paper / Q000592:standards; D051381:Rats; D045730:Soy Foods / Q000032:analysis*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*; D000517:alpha-Chlorohydrin
D002273:Carcinogens; D000517:alpha-Chlorohydrin; D005990:Glycerol