We understand plastic containers suitable for food contact as those that have been produced from plastic materials or are formed from several plastic layers joined together. Sometimes, they are printed or have some type of coating, and may be composed of multilayer materials with plastic parts.

Together, the plastic materials and objects that compose them and that are to come into contact with food, at the community level, are governed by Regulation 2020/1245 which amends Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011, detailing:

• Substances allowed for food use.
• Specific migration limits.
• New test conditions.
• For components that are part of transformation equipment or apparatus, the possibility of carrying out tests on the complete equipment.

Due to the need to ensure safety after use by the end user, it is important to emphasize that these plastic materials, which are specific for food contact, have established migration limits, either specific or global, depending on the substance. As a result, they are subject to extensive migration tests that demonstrate their compliance.

Recently, the European Commission decided to ban Bisphenol A in food contact materials. The text prohibits the use of BPA at any stage of the production process of coatings and varnishes, printing inks, adhesives and ion exchange resins. Practical applications of this prohibition are its use in the coating used on metal cans, in items such as reusable plastic bottles for beverages, water distribution coolers or other kitchen utensils.

Essentially, in Europe, it will only be allowed to be used as a precursor to the synthesis of BADGE (Bisphenol A Diglicidyl Ether) and its derivatives. In this case, they can be used as monomers for the manufacture of coatings, this being their base, as long as it is subject to a series of restrictions such as, for example, non-detectable migration, etc.

One point to take into account of the standard is that it also indicates the obligation to provide supporting documentation to prove the absence of this material, by providing a declaration of conformity.

From this moment on, a period begins to apply this prohibition, and thus, to make this substance disappear from materials that come into contact with food. This decision is based on the scientific evaluation of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which concluded that BPA had “potential harmful effects on the immune system”, which decline its use for food contact, with the objective of protecting the health of citizens and ensuring the highest standards of food safety.

Prior to this fact, both the EFSA and the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA), bodies that ensure health in matters related to food safety, have been analyzing different studies for years in search of scientific evidence, on potential problems caused by BPA (Bisphenol A). As a result, usage standards and tolerable limits have been approved over the past few decades. An example is that in Europe, in 2010, the manufacture of children's toys and packaging from BPA was already banned. Little by little, after the analysis of the studies carried out, and following a precautionary principle, its use has been increasingly restricted.

Within the IRPEN material catalog, we find technical plastics suitable for food contact that are free of Bisphenol-A. Here, we present them to you:

• PETG (PT 01)

It is a thermoplastic copolyester sheet, with excellent transparency that offers an optimal weight/resistance ratio, has superior chemical resistance, very durable and thermoformable without the need for pre-drying.

• PMMA extrusion colorless finish (PO11)

They are thermoplastic methacrylate plates, made from extruded PMMA pellet. The result is a material of high optical quality, precision in thickness and durability.

• PMMA food grade cast

It is a thermoplastic polymer that uses the casting technique during the production process. The result is a material of exceptional transparency, non-permeable, lightweight and easy to handle and machine.

Food grade plates can be served in a colorless finish and in certain colors (consult).

All the materials mentioned have been tested by independent authorized laboratories, and they have a declaration of conformity that guarantees their suitability.