Food Contact Analysis
From standard migration testing to supporting regulatory submissions to contaminant risk assessments and investigations, we provide comprehensive analytical support for clients who require food contact testing.
The Framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 requires food contact materials not to cause unacceptable changes to the taste or odour of food. Where a taint or odour issue occurs, specialist investigation can help identify the substances responsible and determine their potential source.
Smithers has extensive experience in taint testing and investigations. The laboratory has contributed over the years to numerous text books on the subject. Taint investigations often require a detailed knowledge of typical packaging compositions to allow abnormal compositions that might be responsible for a taint to be recognised.
Taint testing - specialist expertise and analytical techniques
The concentrations required to cause a taste or odour may be as low as a few parts per billion. This requires dedicated, sensitive analytical techniques, including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The chemical or chemicals responsible are usually not known so that several analytical methods may be required. Smithers has the expertise, experience and laboratory capabilities necessary to carry out this type of investigation.
Taint testing requires that the subjective nature of the human senses also be taken into consideration. Interpretation of the results often requires access to databases of human taste and odour thresholds in a range of media as well as a sound knowledge of the typical types and concentration ranges of chemicals used in packaging.
Packaging taint and odour panel testing
Smithers has in-house panel testing facilities to get real-world feedback on taint and odour characteristics of packaging materials. Our packaging experts set up blind testing programs, whereby participants have to compare and rank taint and/or odour characteristics. This helps provide evidence of the suitability of packaging materials and end-user satisfaction.
Packaging performance
Smithers has access to a wide range of analytical techniques for the identification and quantification of chemicals in packaging materials and foods, supported by our wider Food Contact Testing and Regulatory Consultancy expertise.
In combination with the expertise and equipment for packaging technical investigation available at Smithers, we help clients investigate a range of packaging-related problems, including packaging performance, product contamination and packaging-related complaints.
We help with:- Identification of contaminants through taint testing
- Quantification of residual solvents to EN 13628-1 and EN 13628-2
- Characterisation of components in paper, plastics and coatings
- Comparison of ink compositions
- Quantification of specific compounds in foods and food simulants.
Talk to an expert about a taint or contamination issue
Talk to our specialists about a packaging-related taint, odour or contamination issue and the analytical or sensory investigation that could help identify its cause.
Download a brochure for more information
- Instrument Design and Fabrication
- Pack and Machine Interaction
- Packaging Design for Fragile Goods
- Packaging Lightweighting and Cost Avoidance
- Packaging Materials Selection
- Packaging Structure Identification
- Packaging Supply Chain Audits
- Packaging Taints and Contaminants | Taint Testing
- Product Characterisation and Verification Testing
- Safety of Recycled Packaging
- Shipment Damage Prevention