Hazards in Food Contact Packaging
What hazards are associated with food contact packaging?
Do you have a specific type of packaging you are referring to? Or just in general.
All one can think of - biological, physical, chemical, radiological. What type of pkg materials and food product?
I should have clarified - roll stock, PET Bottles, Bags. I am looking at the risks associated with B,C,P, A. What specific risks do you identify?
Your suppliers of these materials should be in compliance with food safety. Then you can run risk analysis.
Hi Bingo67,
A lot of the hazards are generic and can be controlled by good manufacturing practices and hygienic handling.
Typical Physical Hazards
Glass and brittle plastics
Blades
Pests
Dust and dirt
Wood splinters
Hairs
Jewellery and personal items
Off-cuts
Broken packaging (when using brittle packaging)
Typical Chemical Hazards
Chemical Migration - See Food packaging’s materials: A food safety perspective
Lubricants containing allergens
Cleaning chemicals
Typical Micro Hazards
Yeasts & Moulds - Cause spoilage in food but can lead to Toxin production, so sometimes categorised as chemical
Pathogens - due to poor hygienic handling practices
The main concerns are that the packaging is suitable for intended use (e.g. microwaving with ready meals) and is suitable for the food/drink you are manufacturing. Your supplier should provide assurance on both in writing and provide chemical migration certificates for the packaging they provide.
Kind regards,
Tony