MIGRATION OF MINERAL HYDROCARBONS INTO FOODS .2. POLYSTYRENE, ABS, AND WAXED PAPERBOARD CONTAINERS FOR DAIRY-PRODUCTS

Migration of mineral hydrocarbons into dairy products and sunflower oi l (fatty food simulant) has been studied using a gas chromatographic p rocedure. The food contact materials examined were polystyrene and ABS pots and tubs, and waxed paperboard. Levels of mineral oil in the pol ystyrene and ABS articles ranged from 0.3 to 5.5% w/w (13 to 366 mg/dm 2) and as a coating on the paperboard ranged from 1.0 to 7.7% (55 to 5 65 mg/dm2). Exposure conditions were 7 days at 4-degrees-C for the dai ry products and 10 days at 40-degrees-C for the oil. However, individu al serving milk and creams (UHT) were retail samples which were stored at ambient temperature before analysis. Migration into the milk produ cts was less than 3 mg/kg. Transfer to sunflower oil simulant and into individual serving milk products was much higher at levels up to 150 mg/kg (2 mg/dm2) and 90 mg/kg (4 mg/dm2) for the oil and milk respecti vely.