CHEMICAL MIGRATION FROM POLYPROPYLENE AND POLYETHYLENE ASEPTIC FOOD-PACKAGING AS AFFECTED BY HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE STERILIZATION

The possible effects of hydrogen peroxide (HP) sterilization on migration from polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) food-packaging materials have been investigated. A number of indices have been used to measure any changes in polymer composition, surface characteristics and migration levels into food simulants, brought about by commercial sterilization procedures using HP. These measurements revealed that changes were limited to a slight and superficial modification of the polymer surface. The composition of the polymer and migration levels from the polymer to food simulants were not changed markedly. It is concluded that neither the nature nor the level of migration into food is likely to be influenced significantly by the aseptic-packaging process of polymer sterilization using HP.