Germany-based Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Wentus has developed a new barrier film for dry food products that claims to stop the entry of potentially harmful mineral oils from the outer packaging into food.
The multi-layer barrier film called Wentopro can be used as a 'bag in box' liner for an array of dry foods, such as rice, dry pasta, dry noodles, baby food and cereal products.
Compatible with different types of sealing machines, the film also acts as a barrier against mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) and claims to offer a high barrier against water vapour, with great strength and sealing properties.
Mineral oil hydrocarbons come from printing ink used in newsprint that is commonly used in manufacturing recycled cardboard for food packaging. A few recent studies have linked these mineral oils to the inflammation of internal organs, like the liver, spleen and lymph nodes.
While the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection recommends that migration of MOSH should not exceed 2 mg/kg and MOAH levels should be no higher than 0.5mg/kg, Clondalkin says its film offers more protection than this, with typical values less than 0.2mg/kg for both.
Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Wentus business development director Christian Claes said: "The development of the WENTOPRO-barrier film is an important advance for the food packaging industry. The subject of mineral hydrocarbon exposure through food and the potential consumer health risks of this is a hot topic at the moment. Our protective film offers food manufacturers protection and reassurance that their products carry very limited risk of any such contamination.
"We have created two different variants of the film: WSL 343040, which protects against MOSH and MOAH and WSL 143031, which offers additional protection, not just against mineral oils, but also against UV photoinitiator exposure, used in curing inks on cardboard and food labels. The migration of these UV photoinitiators into food has also been the subject of recent scientific debate, therefore the WENTOPRO-barrier film WSL 143031 offers double protection against both types of chemical."
The company has made both the products available in two colours, translucent and white.
Image: Clondalkin's new barrier film prevents harmful mineral oils from the outer packaging enter into the food. Photo: courtesy of Clondalkin.
