Food Contact Materials Testing

WHAT IS FOOD CONTACT MATERIALS TESTING?

Food packaging and food contact materials are an important element in the overall effort to provide consumers worldwide with safe and nutritious food. However, packaging manufacturers must be prepared to deal with a complex global regulatory landscape, in which individual jurisdictions have adopted different regulatory frameworks for the review and approval of food packaging and food contact materials. The approval process can be further complicated by customer procurement requirements based on voluntary standards promulgated by industry and trade groups, as well as by the specific substances used in packaging materials. 

WHY IS FOOD CONTACT MATERIALS TESTING IMPORTANT?

Access to safe and nutritious food has always been of paramount importance to consumers around the world. However, changes in the practice of food preparation and consumption indicate food packaging and food contact materials also have a major contribution to the goal on providing safe and nutritious food to consumers. 

Food packaging and food contact materials are subject to regulations in most major markets around the world, including the U.S., the European Union (EU), China and Japan. These food contact materials regulations ensure that packaging and materials which come in direct contact with food are not a source of harmful contaminants, and that they provide adequate protection against microorganisms, pests and other forms of contamination. As a result, food contact material testing is an essential requirement to gain legal access to important consumer markets. In addition, food contact materials testing may be mandated by major global retailers as part of their procurement requirements, further validating the importance of food contact material testing.

HOW CAN TÜV SÜD HELP YOU?

Through our comprehensive analysis, certification, auditing and inspection services, TÜV SÜD can assist manufacturers and distributors in navigating and complying with food packaging and food contact materials regulations and standards worldwide. 

TÜV SÜD food safety professionals are also experienced in evaluating and verifying preventative control plans for consistency with hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) principles. These broad capabilities in food safety make TÜV SÜD an effective single source for assistance with all food safety certification and compliance issues, and a preferred partner to the food industry.

our food contact materials testing

TÜV SÜD offers testing services for a wide range of food packaging products and contact materials, such as food contact appliances, food containers, kitchenware and utensils, and food packaging. We conduct compositional analyses, toxicology assessments, ingredient reviews, packaging adhesive tests, raw material tests, environmental impact tests, transportation simulation and migration testing. Specific types of testing include:

• Chemical testing - Including testing for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), extractable heavy metals, phthalates, primary aromatic amies, PAHs and PCPs. Chemical testing services also include metal composition analysis, overall and specific chemical migration properties, and formaldehyde release rates.

• Physical testing - Including testing for drop impact resistance, final burst pressure, thermal stability and sealing performance, as well as material dimension (diameter/thickness) and top load. 

• Microbiological testing - Testing for e-coli, salmonella, staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus hemolyticus, shigella and mould and yeast.

In addition to our testing services, TÜV SÜD can certify food contact materials to industry standards approved by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), such as those of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and FSSC 22000. We can also provide mandatory and voluntary inspection and auditing services to assure food contact compliance with applicable regulations or procurement requirements. 

As an independent body, we provide objective and far-sighted recommendations for continuous optimization of our clients’ products. We aim to ensure consistent quality so you can be assured of our continuous service throughout the entire process. 

BENEFITS AT A GLANCE

• Save time and money - by identifying compliance considerations for food packaging products and contact materials at the earliest possible stages.
• Minimise risks - by avoiding supply chain problems that can result in packaging product and material recalls and reputational harm.
• Gain a competitive edge - by delivering food packaging products and contact materials of consistent quality and safety, without compromising time to market.
• Benefit from complete solutions - by utilising our full range of testing, certification and auditing services for food packing products and contact materials.
• Achieve global support - by leveraging TÜV SÜD’s worldwide expertise in regulations and requirements, regardless of where your products are manufactured or sold.

ACCREDITATION AND RECOGNITION

TÜV SÜD is an accredited certification body for the BSR/IoP Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials, as well as most other internationally recognised food safety certification schemes, codes and standards. TÜV SÜD laboratories are accredited to the requirements of ISO 17025 by the Singapore Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (SAC-SINGLAS).