Food contact material testing

What is food contact material testing?
1、 Food contact material material material category
According to the internationally recognized classification method, materials and utensils that come into contact with food are classified according to their materials:
Rubber products, glass products, ceramic products, silicone products, plastic products, metal products, paper products, and wooden products, etc.

The product categories included include: food packaging materials, food containers and utensils, kitchenware, household food processing equipment, food production and processing machinery, etc.

Food material testing

2、 Food contact material testing project
● Plastic food contact material testing items:
1. Toxic monomers, cracking products, and toxic substances generated by aging in plastics, including several typical toxic monomers such as vinyl chloride, vinyl chloride, caprolactam, styrene, bisphenol A, and acrylonitrile;
2. Various toxic additives added during the manufacturing process of plastic products, such as plasticizers and phthalates;
3. Microbial and dust contamination on the surface of plastic containers;
4. Adhesive and solvent residues, printing ink, etc. used in composite packaging bags.
Metal food contact material testing items:
Heavy metal leaching test (4% acetic acid), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), zinc (Zn)
Rubber food contact material testing items:
Benzidine, naphthylamine, m-toluenediamine, chloroaniline, phenylnaphthylamine, acrylonitrile, chloroprene, etc.
● Glass food contact material testing items:
Heavy metal leaching test (4% acetic acid), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), zinc (Zn)
● Testing items for bamboo and wood food contact materials:
Pentachlorophenol (PCP), formaldehyde leaching, total migration of organic coatings, arsenic content, lead content, sulfur dioxide content, o-phenylphenol, thiabendazole, biphenyl, and clotrimazole content.
● Paper food contact material testing project
Lead (calculated as Pb), arsenic (calculated as As), fluorescent substances, decolorization test, coliform bacteria, pathogenic bacteria (Shigella, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes).

Food material testing

3、 Food contact material testing and certification categories
1. Starting from April 19, 2017, the mandatory requirements for food contact material testing in China, GB 4806-2016 series standards, have been officially implemented. The standards clearly specify the testing requirements for specific materials, as follows:
a. GB 4806.2-2015 National Food Safety Standard for pacifiers; GB 4806.3-2016 National Food Safety Standard Enamel Products;
b. GB 4806.4-2016 National Food Safety Standard Ceramic Products; GB 4806.5-2016 National Food Safety Standard for Glass Products; GB 4806.6-2016 National Food Safety Standard - Plastic Resins for Food Contact;
c. GB 4806.7-2016 National Food Safety Standard - Plastic Materials and Articles for Food Contact;
d. GB 4806.8-2016 National Food Safety Standard - Food Contact Paper and Paperboard Materials and Products;
e. GB 4806.9-2016 National Food Safety Standard Metal Materials and Articles for Food Contact;
f. GB 4806.10-2016 National Food Safety Standard - Coatings and Coatings for Food Contact;
g. GB 4806.11-2016 National Food Safety Standard Rubber Materials and Products for Food Contact.
Basically, we are involved in common materials that come into contact with food. Of course, there are also standards that do not include composite or biodegradable materials. These series of standards will be developed step by step in the future.

2. EU Germany Food Contact Material Testing LFGB
The EC/1935/004 framework regulation issued by the European Union is currently the dominant regulation on various food contact materials, and EU member states have the right to supervise this framework regulation. However, currently there are specific measures for 17 types of materials. Due to the lack of applicable material guidelines in the European Union, according to Article 6 of EC/1935/2004, when specific measures for various materials and products have not yet been formulated, it is allowed to maintain and adopt the relevant regulations of each member state. Therefore, when exporting products to the European Union, it is not only necessary to consider EC/1935/2004, but also the relevant regulations of the specific exporting country. In countries such as Germany and France, in addition to strictly following the EU Directive 1935/2004, there are also local food grade regulations that must be followed, such as the German LFGB (LMBG), French DGCCRF2004-64, Commonwealth UK SI 898:2005, and Italian Gazetta Uffiile G.U Law No. 283 of 30/04/1962 and Local Ordinance 21/03/1973 (D.M.21/03/73), etc.

In September 2005, the German Food and Dietary Products Law LFGB replaced the Food and Daily Necessities LMBG. It is also known as the "Food, Tobacco Products, Cosmetics, and Other Daily Necessities Management Law" and is an important basic legal document in Germany's food hygiene management. It is the guideline and core for the formulation of other specialized food hygiene laws and regulations. Daily necessities that come into contact with food can obtain an LFGB testing report issued by an authorized organization to prove that they are "products without chemical toxic substances" and can be sold in the German market.

LFGB logo

The difference between LFGB and other food grade tests is that it requires Section 30&31 to be conducted
§ 30 LFGB prohibits the sale of daily necessities containing toxic ingredients that pose a risk to human health
§ 31 LFGB prohibits substances that can migrate into food or affect the taste of food, thereby posing a risk to human health

The requirements for LFGB testing are stricter than those of other countries, so LFGB testing reports are also recognized in other countries. Generally, Articles 30 and 31 of the German Food and Daily Necessities Act include the following testing items:
1. Initial inspection of samples and materials
2. Sensory evaluation of odor and flavor transfer
3. Plastic samples: transferable component testing and heavy metal precipitation testing
4. Metals: Composition and testing of heavy metals that can precipitate
5. Silicone resin: transferable or volatile organic compound testing
6. Special materials: tested for chemical hazards according to the German Chemical Act

The LFGB testing project is closely related to the testing materials. Common testing materials include paper products, wood products, polyethylene plastic (PE), polystyrene plastic (PS), polypropylene plastic (PP), Polyamide plastic (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), rubber, silicone rubber, metal, alloy and electroplated products, stainless steel tableware, ceramics, glass products, etc. Different materials correspond to different testing items.

3. Testing of Food Contact Materials in the United States
Basic understanding
There are strict management and monitoring systems covering food production, packaging, and distribution in various parts and states of the United States to ensure the safety and hygiene of food contact materials and products. It is considered a safe food and packaged food supplier in the world. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) played a crucial role in this process, as its regulations on food contact safety are very specific and complex. For materials and products that come into contact with food, the US FDA considers food packaging materials to be within the scope of food additive management. The FDA's definition of food additives includes all substances that become food ingredients or affect food properties through direct or indirect addition or contact with food. Substances that migrate into food due to packaging, storage, or other processing are considered indirect additives.

FDA certification mark

Sections 174, 175, 176, 177, and 178 (21 CFR Part; 174.175, 176.177.178) of Title 21 of the United States Federal Code, Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics, provide detailed regulations on food additives.
US Food Grade Regulations: U.S. FDA CFR 21 Part 175-189 & FDA CPG 7117.05, 06, 07
U.S. FDA=United State Food and Drug Administration
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR):  Federal Act of the United States
Compliance Policy Guide (CPG):  Guidance on FDA Enforcement Policies in the United States
CFR is mandatory regulations in 52 states of the United States, enforced in all 52 states
► 21 CFR=Food and Drugs Food and Drugs
► 21 CFR 175=Adhesives and coatings adhesives and coatings
21 CFR 176=Paper and Paperboard
► 21 CFR 177=Polymers (plastics and fabrics)
21 CFR 181.32=Acrylonitrile copolymer (A<30%) Acrylonitrile copolymer (Acrylonitrile monomer<30%)
Compliance Policy Guide (CPG):  Guidance on FDA Enforcement Policies in the United States
CPG 7117.07=Lead content in ceramic food utensils
► CPG 7117.06=Cadmium content in ceramic food utensils
CPG 7117.05=Lead content in silver plated food utensils