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Radiolytic products of PVC film irradiated up to 10 kGy |
A. KOTHAPALLI and G. D. Sadler. National Center for Food Safety & Technology, Illinois Institute of Technology, IIT Moffett Campus, 6502 S. Archer Rd., Summit-Argo, IL 60501 The use of ionizing radiation on the food contact polymers is increasing due to the critical role of the package, in holding or containing the irradiated foods. The 21 CFR 179.45 lists approval of PVC copolymers for pre-packaging foods intended for irradiation. However, plasticized PVC films containing contemporary additives have not been approved. Plasticized PVC has unique properties which make it ideal for packaging red meats. Allowance of this film by US-FDA would benefit irradiated meat distribution. Our objective was to identify and quantify radiolytic compounds of a characteristic plasticized PVC film and evaluate the film’s safety as a food contact polymer for prepackaged foods which will receive irradiation. The selected PVC was cryogenically ground to < 20 mesh, 0.100 g were filled into thermal desorption tubes, irradiated to 0, 3 or 10 kGy and thermally extracted and subjected to gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy determination of volatile radiolytic constituents. Non-volatile peaks were determined after extraction of irradiated films with food simulating solvents and analyzed using liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Novel radiolytic peaks or peaks increasing in response to irradiation were identified and quantified. The origin and health consequence of radiolytic peaks was assessed. Results indicated that no volatile or non-volatile compounds were produced above the FDA’s threshold of regulation of 0.5 ppb in the diet. Since no unsafe levels of radiolytic compounds were observed, plasticized PVC can be considered safe for packaging foods intended for irradiation and, therefore, would be expected to be the subject of a successful premarket notification to FDA for its use with meats.
Session 27, Food Packaging: General
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