Migration of bisphenol A and benzophenones from paper and paperboard products used in contact with food

Migration of bisphenol A (BPA) and benzophenones, i.e., benzophenone (BZ), 4-(dimethylamino)benzophenone (DMAB), Michler's ketone (MK) and 4,4'-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone (DEAB), from 21 paper and paperboard products (15 recycled paperboard boxes and 6 virgin paper products) used in contact with food was examined. Migration levels of compounds from recycled paperboard were compared under various food-simulating conditions. BPA showed the highest migration into 20% ethanol and benzophenones into 95% ethanol. No compounds migrated from virgin paper products, but compounds did migrate into food simulants from recycled paperboard food boxes. BPA migrated into 20% ethanol from all recycled paperboard food boxes between 1.0 and 18.7 ng/mL. Into 95% ethanol, migration of BZ was observed in 8 samples (1.0-18.9 ng/mL), DMAB in 12 samples (1.2-3.7 ng/mL), MK in 13 samples (1.9-9.0 ng/mL), and DEAB in 13 samples (1.0-10.6 ng/mL). The highest migration level was 27.2 ng/mL and most of the migration levels were below 10 ng/mL. These values are sufficiently low compared with the TDI and NOAEL levels. Moreover, the amount of food in daily meals that comes into contact with paperboard products is relatively small. Consequently, it was concluded that there was no safety concern regarding the tested compounds in recycled paperboard food boxes.     

Survey of epoxidized soybean oil in cap sealing for bottled foods

Epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) was surveyed in the 103 samples of cap sealing for bottled foods on the Japanese market. Most of the sealings were made of polyvinyl chloride, while a few were made of polyethylene or acrylic resin. All the sealings contained ESBO in the range of 0.006-42.4%. Sealings for baby food, jam, etc. contained higher levels of ESBO, though those for beverages contained lower levels. Sealings in lug caps and press-on twist caps contained higher levels of ESBO, though that in pilfer-proof caps contained lower levels. Some sealings in screw caps and lug caps also contained other plasticizers, for example, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate and diisononyl phthalate, and their ESBO contents were 1/10 of those in sealings containing only ESBO. In this survey, ESBO was the most common plasticizer in cap sealing resin for bottled foods on the Japanese market.     

Survey on the quality of commercial Nigari (crude magnesium chloride [sea water])

Contents of minerals (Mg, Ca, Na and K), anions (SO4(2-), Br- and Cl) and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Hg and As) were determined in 17 commercial samples of Nigari, 15 samples of crude magnesium chloride (sea water) products as a food additive and 2 magnesium-containing foods. Obtained values were compared with the specifications proposed in a draft of the eighth edition of Japan's Specifications and Standards for Food Additives. Out of 15 food additive samples, only 5 samples satisfied the specification. Since the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) proposed to lower the limits of heavy metals in food additives, a simple method was developed for the determination of low levels of Pb and Cd by extracting chelates of these metals with organic solvents. The quantification limits for Pb and Cd were 0.5 microg/g and 0.05 microg/g, respectively. It was estimated from the SO4(2-)/Ca ratios that 15 samples were sea water evaporation products, and the remaining 2 were ion-exchange membrane process products. No pollution with heavy metals was found in any of the samples.