Can Coatings in Food Packaging: 5 Essential Aspects for Safety, Migration Control, and Advanced Analysis

Can Coatings in Food Packaging: 5 Essential Aspects for Safety, Migration Control, and Advanced Analysis

In food packaging, can coatings play an essential role in ensuring both safety and longevity for canned products, which are a crucial part of the global food supply. Metal cans, widely used for preserving foods, rely on polymeric coatings to create a barrier that safeguards food and prevents corrosion of the metal. However, the complex nature of can coatings involves various factors that impact consumer safety and regulatory compliance, such as the migration of residual substances and the need for accurate risk assessment. This article explores 5 key aspects of can coatings—highlighting their role in food preservation, addressing health concerns, examining migration patterns, detailing analytical advances, and underscoring the importance of safety assessments in protecting consumers.

1.       Importance of Can Coatings in Food Preservation

Can coatings play a crucial role in food packaging, particularly in cans that are essential to the global food supply. Metal cans, protected by polymeric coatings on both internal and external surfaces, extend the shelf life of food significantly compared to other packaging materials. These coatings act as a barrier to protect both the food and the metal can from corrosion, thereby preserving food quality over time. Can coatings are widely used across the industry, with epoxy-based coatings, derived from bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), being particularly favored for their excellent mechanical and chemical resistance.

2.       Health Concerns and Alternative Can Coating Materials

While epoxy-based can coatings are effective, concerns about the endocrine-disrupting effects of bisphenol A (BPA) have prompted a shift toward alternative materials. These new can coatings, including polyester and acrylic resins, are designed to reduce BPA exposure while maintaining effective food preservation and packaging integrity. However, despite these innovations, there are still health considerations around residual substances and potential migration into food that require further attention and analysis.

3.       Migration of Substances in Can Coatings

During the manufacturing process of can coatings, residual prepolymers, monomers, and non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) can remain in the final product and migrate into food. These substances may include contaminants, reaction byproducts, and degradation compounds. Identifying and evaluating these migrants is critical to ensuring food safety, as some can pose risks when ingested. To address these concerns, food contact materials (FCMs) require stringent migration assessments and risk evaluations, even though there are no specific EU standards for can coatings. These assessments fall under the broader Framework Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004, emphasizing safety and inertness.

4.       Analytical Techniques for Can Coating Examination

Thorough analysis of can coatings requires a detailed approach, beginning with sample preparation through solvent extraction and purification. Techniques such as Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) and Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) are commonly employed. Additionally, molecularly imprinted polymer cartridges have enhanced the selectivity of solid-phase extraction. Liquid and gas chromatography, often paired with mass spectrometry, are favored for detecting and analyzing substances in can coatings. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and direct analysis in real-time high-resolution mass spectrometry (DART-HRMS) have proven effective in identifying unknown compounds in can coatings quickly and accurately.

5.       Ensuring Consumer Safety through Migration and Exposure Assessments

Canned food can expose consumers to a range of chemicals, such as bisphenols and BADGEs, from can coatings. Therefore, assessing migration levels and dietary exposure is crucial for regulatory development and risk management. Most research focuses on the migration of monomers and other primary components, though studies on oligomers and non-intentionally added substances are limited. Further research is necessary to fully understand and mitigate these risks, including comprehensive studies on concurrent exposure to multiple toxins from can coatings to ensure thorough safety evaluations for consumers.

In summary, the advantages of can coatings in food packaging significantly enhance food safety, quality, and consumer confidence. These coatings not only protect canned goods from corrosion and preserve their shelf life but also reflect the industry’s proactive approach to addressing health concerns through innovative materials. With rigorous migration assessments and advanced analytical techniques, manufacturers can ensure that any potential risks associated with residual substances are effectively managed. As research continues to evolve, the commitment to improving safety standards and evaluating chemical exposure further underscores the importance of can coatings in safeguarding public health.

At UBIS (ASIA) Public Company Limited, we prioritize consumer health by rigorously evaluating our products at every stage of production, adhering to the highest international standards. Our comprehensive quality assurance processes ensure that each product meets stringent safety and performance criteria, reflecting our commitment to excellence. By utilizing state-of-the-art technologies and advanced analytical methods, we not only ensure the integrity of our can coatings but also strive to exceed industry benchmarks. We are dedicated to transparency, quality, and sustainability, ensuring that our customers can enjoy their canned foods with complete confidence. As a leader in the field, UBIS is committed to delivering exceptional products that prioritize safety and quality, reinforcing our position as a trusted choice for consumers worldwide.

For inquiries or to learn more about can coating solutions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

References :

[1] European Union. (2004). Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004. Official Journal of the European Union, L338, 4–17.

[2] Ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the identification of non-intentionally added substances in UV varnishes applied on food contact materials. A safety by design study

[3] The determination of monomers and oligomers from polyester-based can coatings into foodstuffs over extended storage periods

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