Food-safe packaging adhesives on the rise

‘Time and time again we hear reports about ingredients used in packaging materials migrate into the comestible contents. Frequent causes include printing inks on labels or the use of contaminated waste paper.

As a mother of two children I want to be sure, that the food they consume is not contaminated with substances that endanger their health. And it's not just the parents in this world, there is a clear and growing global awareness and demand among consumers for safer and healthier products.

During both transportation and preparation prior to consumption, foods come into contact with a range of packaging materials such as plastics, paper or cardboard.

The trend toward ready-made meals and convenience foods in single households is giving rise to more and more challenges for the packaging industry. This is because preparation in the microwave, in the baking oven or in a cooking pot can cause ingredients to escape from the packaging and migrate into the packed goods.

Any company bringing food to the market is responsible to ensure it is safe for ingestion. Thus, retailers are dependent on the risk assessment of all suppliers along the value chain.

This has a very significant impact on the food packaging industry globally. Although regional differences remain, the legal requirements are getting both stricter and more complex.

Henkel partners with specialized institutions and organizes Food Packaging Safety symposiums involving both internal and external experts within this field and has intensified its R&D efforts in the development of adhesives.

We print food safety white papers, videos and webinars online and our adhesives experts talk about the latest research and development results relating to packaging, general requirements of food packaging, and the significance of adhesive products in this domain. Users who register will also get access to the Premium Area, which offers further content covering a range of key issues, plus a comprehensive glossary.’

Meike Sommer is a business analyst at Henkel. Click here to find more information on Henkel Food Safety.