Food Toxicology 2(2+0)

Lesson 28 : Food packaging material – potential contaminants from food packaging material

Taint and odour

• While paper and board materials may transmit taint or odour to a food, plastics have a much greater potential to do this. This is probably the compound usually responsible when consumers detect a 'plastic taste' in a food.
• However most food packaging is printed and a number of the components of the ink may cause unpleasant flavours in food if manufacture of the packaging material is not carefully controlled.
• It should be remembered that many common plastics are not effective barriers to strong odours. This can often be a problem when storing food in the refrigerator. Odours from food such as garlic or onion can easily pass through plastic film and taint other food.