to put a stop on molecules migrating from plastic packaging into the food they contain, researchers are identifying each decisive point where this incident can occur, using a process inspired from aeronautics. this occurrence is not obvious when investigating a microwavable bowl of chinese soup or a wrapped lettuce. however, plastic food packaging is made up of multiple layers intended to work as a barrier for bacteria or oxygen. olivier vitrac is a researcher in the genial joint research unit of the national institute of agricultural research inraagroparistech that is located in massy, near paris. he explained that each of these layers is manufactured by a different manufacturer. yet, at the end of the chain, the sole responsible for food safety is the food manufacturer who sells the packaged product. researchers have been trying to solve the issue of such potentially dangerous molecules spreading from one layer to the next one in food packaging, vulnerable to eventually contaminate the food. this research has been performed under the project of safefoodpackdesign, funded by the french national research agency anr and coordinated by vitrac. food packaging is intended to preserve the content as safe and fresh as possible. its next function is to make the product look attractive to customers with the help of using colourful prints. the issue is that this method needs the use of potentially harmful molecules such as antioxidizers, antiultraviolet radiations, pigments and glue from inks. these substances have been alleged&mdashalthough not always proven categorically&mdashof being accountable for triggering cancers. as they contain substances like bisphenol a, they have also been blamed of endocrine disruption. france has recently banned this hormonelike chemical. it has also been the aim of the endoceval project funded by eu, which intends at trying new packaging that does not contain bisphenol a. the goal of the safefoodpackdesign project is to develop tools to help packaging manufacturers address the risks of diffusion of potentially harmful molecules, at each stage of the packaging&39s life including storage and transport, from manufacturing to final use. as an instance, piling up cups made up of plastic designed to hold, for example, chinese soup, consequences in putting the inked outer layer in contact with the inner layer of the cup straight away underneath. thus, ink molecules travel towards the inner layer, which will finally comes in contact with the food. vitrac mentions, in this situation, the most vital step regarding chemical threat is with no doubt storage. source of information httpwww.newsmedical.netnews20130411methodusedinaeronauticsmayhelpimprovesaf…
