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Polymeric coating formulations may contain different components such as cross-linking agents, resins, lubricants, and solvents, among others. If the reaction process or curing conditions are not applied in a proper way, these components may remain unreacted in the polymeric network and could be released and migrate into foods. In this study, several polyester coatings intended for food contact were investigated. Firstly, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy with an attenuated total reflectance (ATR-FTIR) spectrometer and confocal Raman microscopy were used to identify the type of coating. Then, different techniques, including gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), among others, were used to investigate the potential volatile and non-volatile migrants. Moreover, migration assays were carried out to evaluate the presence of monomers and to tentatively identify possible oligomers below 1000 Da. The analyses were performed by liquid chromatography coupled to ion trap mass spectrometry (LC-MSn). Using the information collected from each analytical technique, it was possible to elucidate some of the starting substances used in the formulation of the polyester coatings analyzed in this study. In migration tests, several polyester oligomers were tentatively identified for which there is not toxicological data available and, therefore, no migration limits established to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymeric coatings are used as a protective layer to preserve food or beverage quality and protect it from corrosion and avoid a metallic taste. These types of materials can contain some chemicals that are susceptible to migrate to food and constitute a risk for consumers' health. This study is focused on the identification of volatile and semi-volatile low molecular weight compounds present in polymeric coatings used for metal food and beverage cans. A method based on solid–liquid extraction followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was optimized for the semi-volatile compounds. Different solvents were tried with the aim of extracting compounds with different polarities. Furthermore, a method based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) in headspace (HS) mode and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HSSPME-GC-MS) was developed for the identification of potential volatile migrants in polymeric coatings. Some parameters such as extraction time, equilibrium temperature, or the type of fiber were optimized. Different compounds, including aldehydes such as octanal or nonanal, alcohols such as α-terpineol or 2-butoxyethanol, ethers, alkenes, or phthalic compounds, among others, were identified and confirmed with analytical standards both via SPME analysis as well after solvent extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food packaging has received special attention from the food safety standpoint since it could be a potential source of contamination through the migration of chemical substances from the packaging material into food. The assessment of the exposure through the diet to these contaminants from food packaging is necessary. In this work, an estimation of dietary exposure of the young Spanish population (1–17 years) to target chemicals from packaging for fatty dried foods based on cereals was assessed. For this purpose, a gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method was developed for screening of volatile and semivolatile compounds, potential migrants from the packaging. Then, this technique was used to quantify 8 target analytes, which were previously identified in the packaging (including phthalates, acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and octocrylene), in composite food samples of fatty cereals prepared according to the consumption data for different age groups. Among the phthalates, exposure to diethyl phthalate (DEP) was the highest for the three groups considered (0.0761–0.545 µg/kg body weight/day), followed by bis(2-ethylhxyl)phathalate (DEHP), while the lowest mean intake was found for di-n-octyl phathalate (DNOP; 0.00463–0.0209 µg/kg body weight/day). The estimated dietary exposures did not exceed for any of the analytes the corresponding established tolerable daily intakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coatings used in cans can release complex chemical mixtures into foodstuffs. Therefore, it is important to develop analytical methods for the identification of these potential migrant compounds in packaged food to guarantee the compliance with European food packaging legislation and ensure consumer safety. In the present work, the type of coating in a total of twelve cans collected in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) were evaluated using an ATR (attenuated total reflectance)-FTIR spectrometer. These samples were analysed after extraction with acetonitrile in order to identify potential migrants through a screening method by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of forty-seven volatile and semi-volatile compounds were identified in these samples, including plasticizers, photoinitiators, antioxidants, lubricants, etc. Then, in a second step, a targeted analysis was carried out for the simultaneous determination of 13 compounds, including bisphenols (BPA, BPB, BPC, BPE, BPF, BPG) and BADGEs (BADGE, BADGE.H2O, BADGE.2H2O, BADGE.HCl, BADGE.2HCl, BADGE.H2O.HCl, cyclo-di-BADGE) by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) source. Among all the bisphenols analysed, only the bisphenol A was detected in four samples; while cyclo-di-BADGE was the predominant compound detected in all the samples analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food packaging may be a potential source of contamination, through the migration of chemicals from the packaging into the food, thus food consumption is an important route of human exposure to packaging contaminants. In the present study an approach to estimate the exposure to different chemicals transferred from food packaging was designed. As a first step a GC-MS screening was conducted to identify potential contaminants in the materials. Secondly, different chemicals previously identified in the packaging materials were selected for exposure assessment. The proposed methodology was applied to cereal based foods packed with plastic packaging. A variety of chemicals including e.g. acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), bis (2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) and diethyl phthalate (DEP) among others were identified and analyzed in the foodstuffs. For this purpose a LC-MS/MS method was developed. The selected foodstuffs were pooled into three groups according to the population age (12–35 months, 3–9 years and 10–17 years) and based on the Spanish consumption data (Enalia). In general, ATBC mean exposure was higher than that of phthalates and DEHA for the three groups considered, with mean dietary exposure values ranging from 1.01 μg/kg bw/day (pool 12–35 months) to 2.01 μg/kg bw/day (pool 3–9 years). Image 1 • An approach to estimate the exposure to chemicals transferred from food packaging was designed. • Non-target analysis was used to identify potential migrants in packaging materials. • A LC-MS/MS method was developed to quantify contaminants in pooled samples. • The dietary exposure of Spanish population to packaging contaminants was estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A non-target analysis by P&T GC-MS was performed to investigate can coatings. • ATR-FTIR was used to characterize the type of coating. • A multi-method for bisphenol compounds was validated by using HPLC. • Human exposure to bisphenol compounds was assessed. • The presence of bisphenol compounds in beverage samples was investigated. Major type of internal can coating used for food and beverages is made from epoxy resins, which contain among their components bisphenol A (BPA) or bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE). These components can be released and contaminate the food or beverage. There is no specific European legislation for coatings, but there is legislation on specific substances setting migration limits. Many investigations have paid attention to BPA due to its classification as endocrine disruptor, however, few studies are available concerning to other bisphenol analogues that have been used in the manufacture of these resins. To evaluate the presence of this family of compounds, ten cans of beverages were taken as study samples. Firstly, the type of coating was verified using an attenuated total reflectance-FTIR spectrometer to check the type of coating presents in most of the samples examined. A screening method was also performed to investigate potential volatiles from polymeric can coatings of beverages using Purge and Trap (P&T) technique coupled to gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (GC-MS). Moreover, a selective analytical method based on high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) for the simultaneous identification and quantification of thirteen compounds including bisphenol analogues (BPA, BPB, BPC, BPE, BPF, BPG) and BADGEs (BADGE, BADGE.H 2 O, BADGE.2H 2 O, BADGE.HCl, BADGE.2HCl, BADGE.H2O.HCl, cyclo-di-BADGE) in the polymeric can coatings and in the beverage samples was applied. In addition, a liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was optimized for confirmation purposes. The method showed an adequate linearity (R 2 >0.9994) and low detection levels down to 5 µg/L. Cyclo-di-BADGE was detected in all extracts of polymeric coatings. The concentrations ranged from 0.004 to 0.60 mg/dm2. No detectable amounts of bisphenol related compounds were found in any of the beverage samples at levels that may pose a risk to human health, suggesting a low intake of bisphenols from beverages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]