The quality and safety of food contact materials is a concern in every country. During contact with food, food contact materials and articles may affect the smell, taste and colour of the food and may release toxic chemical substances such as heavy metals and toxic additives that migrate into the food and are ingested, endangering human health.

As the market for takeaway and packaged food continues to grow, food contact materials and articles make food safer to handle but also greatly increase food safety risk. In recent years major trading countries have introduced increasingly strict laws and regulations and improved supervision mechanisms to eliminate hidden quality risks and strengthen the safety management of food contact materials.

Part 1. What are FCMs?

Food contact materials are materials that come into direct contact with food during normal use. They include but are not limited to plastics, rubber, resins, silicone, metals, alloys, paper, paperboard, glass, ceramics, enamel, colorants and printing inks, and are widely used in food packaging, tableware, cookware, food processing machinery and kitchen appliances.

Commonly tested materials

Testing covers mainly, but not exclusively, the categories below.

Products tested

Testing covers mainly, but not exclusively, the categories below.

Part 2. Why FCM testing matters

The main purpose of FCM testing is to ensure that materials in direct or indirect contact with food do not contaminate or harm the food. The testing verifies whether these materials release harmful substances such as chemicals, heavy metals or microorganisms that could migrate into food during contact and pose a potential risk to human health.

Part 3. Overview of food contact material regulations worldwide

By the characteristics of the laws and regulations different countries and regions have established, global food contact material safety requirements fall roughly into three regions.

Europe. The EU framework Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 requires products in contact with food sold in EU member states to comply with its requirements. The requirements and test items for different materials are summarised below.

Additional food grade requirements in Germany, France and Italy

1. Germany: LFGB.
2. France: French Decree 2007-766 and DGCCRF Information Notice 2004/64 with amendments.
3. Italy: Law No. 283 of 30 April 1962 and the Ministerial Decree of 21 March 1973 with amendments.

United States. US food grade regulations: US FDA 21 CFR Part 175-189 and FDA CPG 7117.05, 06 and 07.

General FDA requirements for containers and materials in contact with food:

Manufacturers must operate under GMP, good manufacturing practice.
Only materials approved in the regulations may be used, under 21 CFR Part 170-189.
Raw materials must meet the technical specifications in 21 CFR Part 170-189.
Any new material placed on the market must be reviewed and recognised by the US FDA, similar to the EU Regulation 1935/2004.

California Proposition 65. Vessels exported to California must meet California Proposition 65, including the food contact area, exterior decoration and the rim.

Covered products include glass and ceramic articles used to store or hold food or beverages, and glass and ceramic articles not in contact with food or beverages, such as household goods.

Additional requirements for ceramic and glass articles under Proposition 65 cover soluble lead and cadmium in the food contact area such as the inside of cups and bowls, in exterior decoration such as patterns and colours on the surface, and in the rim area within 20 mm of the edge.

China.

Dishwasher safety testing (UK): BS EN 12875-1

Scope: household articles made of ceramic, glass, glass ceramic, vitreous enamel, metal and plastics.

Test procedure: inspect the samples visually and record any appearance defects; place the samples in the dishwasher; add dishwasher detergent and close and lock the dishwasher according to the operating instructions; run the dishwasher with water at 60℃ on the normal household setting for at least 125 test cycles, and then in multiples of 250 cycles, each cycle comprising soaking, washing and drying; compare the samples before and after and record the results in the report.

Acceptance: the sample conforms if there is no cracking, chipping, crazing, fracture, discolouration, loss of gloss, deformation or distortion.

Microwave safety testing (US): ASTM C1607-12

Scope: ceramic articles.

Purpose: to determine whether a product is safe for heating food in a microwave oven. The test simulates typical microwave use, measuring the maximum temperature and temperature difference of the product under microwave reheating conditions.