Food packaging migration and taint testing and analysis

Ensuring safe food packaging or food contact materials through migration and taint analysis and testing is key to avoid loss of consumer confidence, brand damage and costly product recall.

Packaging migration and taints result from foreign chemical contamination in food, which can occur at any point of the global food supply chain and their analysis can be complex and challenging.

How we can help

Our knowledge of the relevant legislation, as well as technical expertise in food packaging migration and taint analysis, allow us to address issues and develop new analytical methods to support all stakeholders from developers, converters, to brands and retailers and ensure regulatory compliance.

We then either advise on further food packaging migration and taint analysis or take investigative action to determine root cause and prevent future occurrence.

Migration

It is important that packaging does not transfer its constituents, such as heavy metals and plastic monomers, into food and drink, to the detriment of the products quality.

We have a range of UKAS accredited methods for testing compliance with legal requirements for both heavy metal transfer and plastic migration from the packaging into the food.

As well as 'global' migration analysis, our non-exhaustive list of migration testing covers:

• Acrylonitrile
• BADGE
• BFDGE
• Bisphenol A
• Formaldehyde
• NOGE
• Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) PFAS
• Photo-initiators
• Phthalates
• Vinyl acetate

Taint

Consumers should expect a consistent experience. Chemical taints can arise through various routes and understanding the cause of a particular taint helps to prevent its recurrence.

Our non-exhaustive list of taint testing covers:

• Sensory analysis of food and drink
• Chemical analysis to determine the nature and severity of a problem
• Off flavours in new product development
• Flavour deterioration on storage
• Taint analysis from packaging

Partner with us, the experts in packaging

Working with us means partnering with a dedicated team with extensive experience in packaging testing to support your food contact packaging development from early-stage R&D to recycling and beyond.

Contact us to find out how we can help you.

Key services

Package strength and integrity

Packaging must be able to withstand the rigours of distribution and storage.

Paper and board

Different tests can be performed to assess the quality of paper or board.

Metal

Testing of canned products within metal packaging may be required for various reasons including product/pack compatibility.

Plastics

Different tests can be performed to assess the quality and strength of plastics.

Modified atmosphere packaging

Ensuring the correct gas composition and gas:product volume ratio is critical.

Packaging down the microscope

Microscopy can use a range of techniques to examine packaging materials including plastic and metal.

Packaging migration and taint analysis

Packaging must not transfer its constituents into food to the detriment of the food's quality.

Metal can double seam assessment and troubleshooting

We can assess internal and external dimensions for any defects and breaching of critical seam parameters

List of all tests

List of all packaging analysis and tests available.