• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2024

In this study, we investigated the migration level of items specified in the Korean Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers, and Packages (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Notification) for 50 utensils and hygiene products made of biodegradable resins. Our results revealed that one Polylactide (PLA) baby tableware contained 20 mg/L in consumption of potassium permanganate, exceeding the standard of 10 mg/L or less. In all other samples, formaldehyde, lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) levels could be considered very safe and remained below the standard. Moreover, we tested the PLA baby tablewares (n = 21) for migration into a food simulant (4% v/v acetic acid) upon repeated elution at 100℃ for 30 min or UV irradiation for 2 h. We detected increased formaldehyde and As amounts at the repeated 100℃ treatment for 30 min compared to those upon repeated UV irradiation. However, the migration level was markedly low under both conditions. Furthermore, the Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) calculated on an infant-to-child basis from the formaldehyde and As migration at 100℃ for 30 min in the PLA sample was at the maximum value, i.e., 6.0×10^-4 mg/kg b.w./day and 1.3×10^-1 ㎍/kg b.w./day, corresponding to 0.40% and 10.42% of the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI, 0.15 mg/kg b.w./day) and Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI, 9.0 ㎍/kg b.w./week), respectively. Therefore, in this study, we confirmed that biodegradable synthetic resins are safe to use for food.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2017

To visually identify the spoilage of chicken breasts, a three layered freshness indicator consisting of PET/bromocresol green (BCG)-ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)-acetic acid (AA) composite layer/porous substrates was successfully prepared and their performance were simulated at 20% of $CO_2$ and 4 different trimethylamine (TMA) concentrations to evaluate color change at minimal spoilage level. The visibility and range of color changes of the as-prepared indicators responding to TMA concentration as a simulant were strongly dependent on the concentrations of BCG and AA. As the BCG content increased, the visibility of color change in the freshness indicators was apparently improved and the range of color change could be controlled by contents of AA. Among the as-prepared freshness indicators, 'G0.12_A0.5' which consisting 0.12g of BCG and 0.5g of AA was selected as an optimum composition due to the highest visibility at TMA 20 mg% corresponding to the minimal spoilage level. The color of the indicator changed from yellow to green for spoilage indication of chicken breast, which could be easily seen with the naked eyes and well consistent with the simulation results. It is expected that our developed freshness indicator can be useful in monitoring various food freshness and quality.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.37-45
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• 2023

The surge in food delivery systems during the coronavirus 2019 pandemic necessitated this study of heavy metal migration from food contact materials (FCMs). A total of 104 samples of FCMs, comprising 51 polypropylene (PP), 21 polyethylene (PE), and 32 polystyrene (PS) samples of six different types of FCMs (containers, covers, table utensils, cups, pouches, and wrappers) used for food delivery distributed in Korea, were collected and investigated for migration of three heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and As) using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine whether they complied with Korea's Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers, and Packages. Acetic acid (4%, v/v) was used as the food simulant, and tests were performed at 100℃ (in harsh conditions) for 30 min. Linearity of Pb, Cd, and As showed acceptable results with a coefficient of determination (R²) value of 0.9999. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of Pb, Cd, and As were 0.001, 0.001, and 0.001 ㎍/L and 0.002, 0.003, and 0.003 ㎍/L, respectively. Accuracy and precision results complied with the criteria presented in the European Commission Joint Research Centre guidelines. The average concentration of Pb, Cd, and As migration detected in a total of 104 samples was 0.009-0.260 ㎍/L, which was very low compared with the migration specification set in the Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers, and Packages. The maximum level of Pb corresponded to 0.23% of the migration limit. There were no samples exceeding the limit. Thus, this study confirmed that the heavy metal contents of FCMs used for delivery food distributed in Korea were safely managed. The data from this study represent an invaluable source for science-based safety management of hazardous heavy metals migrating from FCMs used in the food delivery industry.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2008

Twenty eight gas impermeable plastic films for food-contact application were collected in the domestic market and material and/or migration tests for overall migration, antioxidants, potassium permanganate consumption, heavy metal, and plasticizers were carried out. The average overall migration values for NY/PE or NY/LLDPE, PETP/PE, and PVDC packaging films obtained by using n-heptane as fatty food simulant were 7.6, 6.9 and 14.1 mg/L, respectively. These values were much lower than the limit values of 150 and 30 mg/L for polyethylene and polyvinylidene chloride prescribed in the Korea Food Code. In almost of the packaging materials tested, the antioxidants such as Irganox 1010, Irganox 1076 and Irgafos 168 were found. The migration test result showed that almost of all samples except PVDC film contained Irganox 1076 and Irgafos 168, while the maximum migration value of Irganox 1076 into n-heptane was found in the Ny/PE/LLDPE(15/25/50 ${\mu}m$) sample at the concentration of 216.9 ${\mu}g/g$. From the plastic packaging samples tested, plasticizers such as DEP, DPRP, DBP, DPP, BBP, DCHP, DEHP, DEHA and observed above the detection limit. Consumption amount of potassium permanganate was much lower than the limit value of 10 mg/L. In the material test for heavy metals, cadmium and lead were determined at the concentrations far below the limit value of 100 mg/kg. The migration test for cadmium and lead showed a lower value than the detection limit. Therefore, it can be concluded that the safety status of the plastic films tested met the requirement of limit values as prescribed for the material and migration tests of food packaging utensils, containers and packages of the Korea Food Code.