What is food contact material testing? Food contact materials refer to materials/containers or processing tools that will come into contact with food during normal production/circulation/use. When materials, containers or tools come into contact with food, if harmful substances such as heavy metals and toxic additives are released and non food ingredients are introduced, it will have an important impact on human health. Details of national compliance testing are as follows.

Applicable scope

Tableware: knives and forks, bowls, chopsticks, spoons, cups, dishes, etc;

Kitchenware: pots, shovels, chopping boards, stainless steel kitchen appliances, etc;

Food packaging containers: various food packaging bags, beverage and food containers, etc;

Kitchen appliances: coffee maker, juicer, blender, electric kettle, rice cooker, oven, microwave oven, etc.

Infant products: milk bottles, pacifiers, suction cups, etc.

Note: Including packaging materials, containers, tools and equipment used for food in the process of food production, processing, packaging, transportation, storage, sales and use, as well as ink, adhesives, lubricants, etc. that may directly or indirectly contact with food. Detergents, disinfectants and public water conveyance facilities are excluded.

Test items

1. Plastic food contact material testing items

Residual toxic monomers, pyrolysates and toxic substances produced by aging in plastics, and several typical toxic monomers of plastics, such as vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, caprolactam, styrene, bisphenol A and acrylonitrile;

Various toxic additives added in the manufacturing process of plastic products, such as plasticizer phthalates;

Microbial and micro dust contamination on the surface of plastic containers;

Adhesives and solvent residues used in composite packaging bags, printing ink, etc.

2. Metal food contact material testing items

Heavy metal dissolution test (4% acetic acid), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), zinc (Zn).

3. Rubber food contact material testing items

Benzidine, naphthylamine, m-toluidine diamine, chloroaniline, phenyl naphthylamine, acrylonitrile, chloroprene.

4. Test items of glass food contact materials

Heavy metal dissolution test (4% acetic acid), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), zinc (Zn).

5. Inspection items of bamboo and wood food contact materials

Pentachlorophenol (PCP), formaldehyde dissolution, total migration of organic coating, arsenic content, lead content, sulfur dioxide content, o-phenylphenol, thiabendazole, biphenyl and antimycazole content.

6. Test items of paper food contact materials

Lead (as Pb), arsenic (as As), fluorescent substances, decolorization test, coliform bacteria, pathogenic bacteria (Shigella, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic streptococcus).

Test Criteria

1. The domestic standards for food contact materials are GB 4806 series and GB 9685. Different materials have different specific standard numbers.

GB 4806.1 National Food Safety Standard General Safety Requirements for Food Contact Materials and Products;

GB 9685 National Food Safety Standard for Use of Food Contact Materials and Product Additives;

GB 4806.2-2015 National Food Safety Standard pacifier;

GB 4806.3-2016 National Food Safety Standard Enamel Products;

GB 4806.4-2016 National Food Safety Standard Ceramic Products;

GB 4806.5-2016 National Food Safety Standard Glass Products;

GB 4806.6-2016 National Food Safety Standard Plastic Resin for Food Contact;

GB 4806.7-2016 National Food Safety Standard Plastic Materials and Products for Food Contact;

GB 4806.8-2016 National Food Safety Standard Paper and Board Materials and Products for Food Contact;

GB 4806.9-2016 National Food Safety Standard Metal Materials and Products for Food Contact;

GB 4806.10-2016 National Food Safety Standard Coatings and Coatings for Food Contact;

GB 4806.11-2016 National Food Safety Standard Rubber Materials and Products for Food Contact;

GB 9683-1988 Hygienic Standard for Composite Food Packaging Bags.

2. EU Food Contact Material Test Standard

The EU food contact materials should meet the regulatory requirements of EU1935/2004/EC. The EU food contact materials are strictly controlled, and the products exported to the EU must pass the corresponding test certification. Each material has different test standard requirements: plastic (2011/10/EU), silica gel (AP20045), rubber (AP20044), organic coating (AP20041), Tangzi/glass/ceramic (84/500/EEC 2005/31/C), aluminum and aluminum alloy (EN601EN602), and 923 kinds of heavy metals (CM/Res (2013)).

3. American Standard for Testing Food Contact Materials

Food contact materials in the United States need to comply with FDA. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for supervising food contact materials. Such materials must be tested to ensure that they meet food contact safety standards. The specific standard is: Food and Drug (21CFR), Part XXI of the United States Federal Code.

4. Japanese Food Contact Material Test Standard

Japanese food contact materials need to comply with LWA 370. The control scope of food grade materials mainly includes rubber, metal, glass, ceramics, enamel enamel, plastic, paper, organic coating and wood. Japan JFSL370 has different test items for different test materials.