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Understanding ASTM, FDA, and EU Food Contact Material Testing Requirements

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For modern food packaging manufacturers, the landscape has shifted from a focus on shelf-life and aesthetics to surviving a regulatory minefield. The industry is currently grappling with a dual challenge: adhering to increasingly complex global safety standards while rapidly phasing out legacy materials, like Bisphenol A (BPA), in favor of safer alternatives. Section 1: The 2026 Regulatory Landscape (EU & FDA) Navigating international trade requires understanding fundamentally philosophies regarding food contact materials (FCMs). 1. The Precautionary Principle vs. Risk-Based Management EU (Precautionary Principle): The European Union operates on the basis that if an action or policy has a suspected risk of causing harm, the burden of proof that it is not harmful falls on those taking the action. This leads to swifter, blanket bans on specific chemicals. FDA (Risk-Based): The United States FDA ...
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What Is Migration Testing and Why Does It Matter for Food Contact Materials?

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When we think of food safety, we often imagine preventing mold or bacterial growth. However, there is an invisible frontier in food safety: the chemical interaction between a product and its container. Migration testing in food packaging is the scientific study of the transfer of chemical substances—such as monomers, plasticizers, and heavy metals—from packaging materials into the food or drink they hold (Intertek, 2024). Food Contact Materials (AI Generated Image) While visible spoilage is easy to spot, chemical leaching is undetectable to the consumer but poses significant long-term health risks. Section 1: Types of Migration: Overall vs. Specific Migration isn't a single measurement; it is categorized by what is being tracked and the level of risk involved. Overall Migration (OM): This measures the total amount of non-volatile substances that move from the package to the food. It is an indicator of the inert...
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A Technical Exchange with a leading Food Contact Material Testing Center in Europe

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Recently, our team visited a valuable European laboratory specializing in food contact material testing (overall migration testing). The visit created a valuable opportunity for in-depth discussions on laboratory workflows, the evolving role of automation inconstant weight determination, and the shared potential for future collaboration built on complementary strengths. Specialized testing laboratories bring deep expertise in regulatory interpretation, method validation, and technical reporting, supported by active participation in industry discussions and standardization activities. Instrument manufacturers, meanwhile, contribute through automation engineering, workflow integration, and data-driven system optimization. Progress in food contact materials (FCMs) & overall migration testing often emerges at the intersection of these strengths. Open technical dialogue helps align laboratory experience with engineering innovation, supporting more structured, efficient, and competitive ...
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Loss on Drying (LOD) Test: Method, Pharmacopoeia Standards and Automated LOD Systems

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What Is Loss on Drying (LOD)? Loss on Drying (LOD) is a gravimetric analytical method used to determine moisture content and volatile substances in pharmaceutical substances, excipients, finished dosage forms, food materials, and chemical products. The loss on drying method measures the weight reduction of a sample after drying under specified temperature conditions, typically 105°C unless otherwise defined in a monograph. The standard LOD test procedure involves: Accurately weighing the sample Drying at a prescribed temperature Cooling under controlled conditions Reweighing until constant mass Calculating percentage weight loss Because water and volatile matter directly affect product stability, potency, and shelf life, the loss on drying test remains a mandatory quality control parameter in regulated industries.   Loss on Drying in Pharmacopoeias The loss on drying test is formally defined in major international pharmacopoeias: United States Pharma...
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