Polymers in Contact with food

Smithers Rapra has been providing consultancy services & testing of materials used in contact with food for many years.

The versatility of plastics, coupled with a range of processing technologies have ensured its success in both rigid & flexible packaging, by enabling a wide range of physical properties & unit costs to be tailored for different end use applications.

Polymer packaging is an essential mechanism for the protection of foodstuff from physical, chemical & biological contamination during storage, transportation & distribution. However, the intimate contact between a package & its enclosed foodstuff introduces the possibility of the transfer of constituents of the packaging material into the food via a number of mechanisms, including:

  • Self migration
  • Leaching
  • Chemical Attack

However, the safety of packaging materials used in direct contact with food is of critical importance & is subjected to extensive regulations covering chemical migration & food at all levels.

Smithers Rapra is well placed to assist with food contact & packaging related problems & opportunities. We have a pedigree in food contact research studies & as participants in FAPAS – the food analysis proficiency testing scheme – we are well-placed to provide our clients with technical support on all aspects of materials & additives in food contact applications in relation to international regulations & requirements.


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