Recycled paperboard with a barrier layer for food contact: set-off during stacking or reeling. Analytical method and preliminary results

ABSTRACTThe use of recycled paperboard for packaging dry foods is in the interest of sustainability of resources, but in most applications, the food must be protected against contamination, such as by a functional barrier on the internal surface of the paperboard box. After application, the paperboard is usually stacked or reeled before making boxes. During this period, the food-contact surface of the barrier layer is in contact with the outer side of the paperboard, which may result in set-off and subsequent contamination of food. A method is described for the determination of this path of migration, based on the taped format also used for the measurement of the barrier efficiency. Recycled paperboard containing the three surrogate substances n-heptadecane, 4-methyl benzophenone and dipropyl phthalate was taped to the food-contact side of the barrier layer. Pressure onto the test packs did not seem to be a relevant parameter. After periods of interest, a piece of the paperboard with the barrier layer was...