Food Packaging Materials: Risks of Contamination

Authors

  • Nabila Bouhadi *

    Centre de Recherche Scientifique et Technique en Analyses Physico-Chimiques, Bou-Ismail 42004, Algeria Laboratory of Food Technology Research (LRTA), University of Boumerdes, Boumerdes 35000, Algeria
  • Lilya Boudriche

    Centre de Recherche Scientifique et Technique en Analyses Physico-Chimiques, Bou-Ismail 42004, Algeria
  • Nora Ghaliaoui

    Centre de Recherche Scientifique et Technique en Analyses Physico-Chimiques, Bou-Ismail 42004, Algeria 
  • Ouahiba Nait Abderrahmane

    Centre de Recherche Scientifique et Technique en Analyses Physico-Chimiques, Bou-Ismail 42004, Algeria Laboratory of Functional Organic Analysis, Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), El Alia 16000, Algeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55121/fds.v3i1.892

Keywords:

Food Packaging, Food Contaminants, Migration, Mechanism, Interaction

Abstract

Food packaging performs multiple essential functions: it protects, preserves, contains, markets, stores, and facilitates the transport of food products. Throughout the food supply chain, packaging plays a critical role in maintaining food quality, safety, and shelf life. Growing consumer expectations and evolving market trends have contributed to the emergence of increasingly advanced and innovative wrapping systems. These innovations aim to improve functional performance while responding to sustainability and safety concerns. Despite these advantages, packaging materials pose environmental challenges due to their high production volumes, short lifespan, and waste management difficulties. Although recycling is essential for reducing waste, it may nevertheless lead to the accumulation of hazardous substances in packaging materials, which may migrate into food and present health risks to consumers. Mass transfer and chemical equilibrium govern the migration process, and this interaction can negatively affect human health when chemical substances from packaging penetrate food matrices. Potential migrants include compounds such as antioxidants, antimicrobial agents, deliberately added chemicals, unintended by-products, as well as monomers, oligomers, and nanoscale particles. The following paper reviews the potential hazards linked to materials used in food packaging, focusing on contamination mechanisms, migration phenomena, and the advancements in analytical techniques designed to identify packaging-derived hazardous substances in food.

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