Food Grade vs. Non Food Grade Printing Inks
- Filed in:
- Additives,
- Regulations,
- Food
Could you please advise what specific criteria is used to differentiate between food grade and non-food grade printing inks? For example, heavy metal levels or any solvent limits? Is the criteria used a worldwide or global standard?
Also, for those toluene-based printing inks, is there any regulated residual solvent limit for food packaging? Many thanks.
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Very general response
Adam Pawlick
A very short and very general response to your question is that food grade versus non-food grade is determined through a number of studies that research what extractables (chemicals from the inks, adhesives, plastics, etc) that leave the package and enter the food under specific sets of circumstances. Heavy metals are definitely something that the FDA looks for since they have adverse health impacts on people, but there are many other chemicals that make the list as well.
An important thing to remember, there are different levels of direct food contact allowed (almost nothing actually gets FDA approval, they get non-objection...a technical difference, but a difference all the same), so make sure whatever use you are looking for, the food contact level matches your use.
Food contact approval typically varies by country. I am not aware of anything that is global.
Food Grade vs. Non-Food Grade Printing Inks
Janna Craig...I am the marketing coordinator for Color Resolutions International, a manufacturer of water-based and UV curable inks for the packaging industry. We were recently contacted by Label & Narrow Web magazine to participate in a discussion about Food Labeling, as we have developed ink systems designed for food product labeling. You can find the complete article, which will help you understand all the variables of FDA requirements as well as comments from various packaging converters. You can locate the article at labelandnarrowweb.com and locate the March 2009 archive article on food labeling.
Food Grade vs. Non Food Grade Printing Inks
Becky Jayne...You should be aware that 19 states have toxics in packaging laws that regulate heavy metal content in packaging. Most of the states do not allow intentional use of cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, or mercury at any amount. In addition the laws prohibit incindental use of those metals at no more than 100 ppm total. Visit www.toxicsinpackaging.org for more information.
Many Thanks all, Very
kittw...Many Thanks all,
Very interesting articles & references!!! I will go through it. I have just got some info on the packaging printing ink guideline from Council of Europe. In case of your interest, you may search for --- Resolution AP(2005)2 Packaging Ink. Also, may visit below site:
www.eupia.org/homepage.htm >> Guidelines for printing inks for food packaging/GMP
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