New analyses for detection of 4-Methylbenzophenone, Benzophenone and other UV initiators!

Eurofins | Consumer Product Testing in Hamburg offers analyses to securely detect 4-Methylbenzophenone, Benzophenone and other UV-initiators in packaging materials and food.

UV curing inks contain starting molecules for the polymerisation. Huge public concern and negative headlines were dedicated to such a molecule named 2-isopropylthioxanthon (ITX) some years ago. This was found mainly in dairy products packed in carton board packaging.

In the rapid alert system for food and feed of the European Union (RASFF) from beginning of February the detection of two further substances of this class was reported. Benzophenone and 4-Methylbenzophenone were found in cereal products from Belgium in concentrations up to 4 mg/kg. The tolerable daily intake of Benzophenone is 0.01 mg/kg body weight. A specific migration limit of 0.6 mg per kilogram food is fixed in the plastic directive 2002/72/EC. For 4-Methylbenzophenone no toxicological data are available up to now. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked to provide a risk assessment.

The European printing ink association (EuPIA) has declared in a first statement that members of EuPIA do not consider these UV-initiators as suitable for food packaging due to migration concerns unless there is a functional barrier present.

Contact our expert today to find out more:

Dr. Andreas Grabitz

Tel +49 40 49294 641
Fax +49 40 49294 99 641
AndreasGrabitz@eurofins.de