Examinationmethods
Compliance status
The compliance status is a summary evaluation of the available information for food law assessment of the specified article and points out any open issues of compliance work.
SML (specific migration limit) analysis of individual substances for compliance assessment
Quantitative analysis of substances with limits (SML, SML(T), QM, QMA etc.) or non-evaluated substances by gas chromatography (e. g. HS-GC, GC/MS), liquid chromatography (e. g. HPLC/MS), mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) in food simulants or foodstuffs after migration or (residual) content determination in the material or article.
10 ppb screening or NIAS screening (non-target analysis) semiquantitative
Semi-quantitative screening for the presence of NIAS (non-intentionally added substances) or some SML substances by GC/MS after migration with food simulant ethanol 95% for foods with hydrophilic or lipophilic properties or simulant E (poly(2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide or Tenax ®) for dry foods. In principle, substances with molecular weights of approx. 100 - 700 Dalton (or approx. 100 -700 g/mol) can be detected.
Residual solvents determination
DIN EN 13628-2 (industrial method), Headspace gas chromatography FID, multi-method, listing of solvents: methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, cyclohexane, acetone, benzene, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), 1-methoxy-2-propanol, toluene, n-propyl acetate, 1-ethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methoxy -1-butanol, isododecane, 1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate, 3-butoxy-2-propanol, diacetone alcohol, acetylacetone
Set-off test from printing inks and laquers according Regulation (EC) No. 2023/2006
Laboratory storage test to evaluate the inertness of printed and laquered articles in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 2023/2006 (GMP), transfer of ink constituents or coating components from the printed surface on the food-contact surface, e. g. in winded reels, stacked hollow bodies, material stacks, materials/objects that are intended for direct food contact, in the laboratory. Specific migrations or NIAS screenings are required afterwards, which must be selected depending on the printing ink/varnish used in order to evaluate whether a migration is occurring (please add additional test).
Overall migration acc. Reg. (EU) No 10/2011 standard test conditions (OM 0 - OM 7)
Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 (PIM)/DIN EN 1186 classical food simulants for all filling goods (no alternative tests like Isooctane testing):
A = Ethanol 10 % (v/v), B = Acetic acid 3 % (w/v), C= Ethanol 20 % (v/v), D1 = Ethanol 50 % (v/v), D2 = Vegetable oil, E = poly(2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide) (Tenax ®)
sensory analysis of packaging materials/transition of sensory perceptible substances to test foodstuffs
Organoleptic determination of the flavour transition (gustatory, olfactory and trigeminal sensations may be influenced by tactile, thermal, painful and/or kinaestesic effects) from packaging materials to standard test foodstuffs, commonly known as the "Robinson test", as well as change in appearance and odour of the test foodstuff.
Damage analysis/examination of complaints
In many cases, it is not immediately obvious which kind of tests are necessary and reasonable for clarification. Furthermore, test results which are available in short time are often helpful for further decisions.
Our “diagnostic concept” provides the agreement of a limited budget (normally 700,- up to 1.000,- Euro) for the screening and evaluation of information already available as well as the realisation and assessment of first tests according to an agreed schedule. The result is a more detailed view of the damage, possible solutions and indications for additional and reasonable investigations and researches are given. You will receive first reliable test results and an appropriate documentation of the current situation at short notice and at a fixed price.
Information on the frequency of damage, time of detection, technical information such as material structure or test results already known are helpful for a successful processing as experience has shown. If available, please send us reference samples, data sheets, specifications.
Dimensions and repeating patterns on pouches, bags etc.
Dimensions like width, length, side gusset depth on bags, reels, packagings, repeat measurements, with calibrated metal measuring stick n = 5
Linear dimensional changes/dimensional stability/temperature stability of films and sheets
Determination of linear dimensional changes after exposure to temperature (till ca. 175°C, depending on material) of plastic films and sheets. Please select test temperature. We recommend the examination of shrinkage or shrinking stress for shrink films.
Storage test/accelerated ageing in lab drying oven or refrigerator (controlled temperature)
Storage tests with or without filling good for estimating the long-term stability of materials and packages. The storage tests, depending on the requirements, could be carried out in lab drying oven (convection), refrigerator, explosion-protected heating chamber (e. g. solvent-based media, T1 - T3 max. 105 °C; T 4 max. 70 °C), climate chamber (humidity and temperature controlled, temperature and humidity cycles possible). Please select the appropriate method to avoid unnecessary costs.
Tests according to this method serve to accelerate the estimation of material ageing, e.g. also with regard to resistance to chemicals, foodstuffs or other filling materials for long-term applications. This is an assessment of purely technical aspects. For the assessment of food law conformity, please refer to the relevant legal regulations. For initial sampling, we strongly recommend parallel testing under real storage conditions to validate the validity of accelerated ageing tests.
To prepare an offer, we need the following details/information:
What type of packaging is to be tested (size, filling volume)?
How many packages are to be stored?
Are the packages empty or do they have to be emptied before testing?
What kind of filling material is involved (CAS No./Safety Data Sheet)?
How long should the packages be stored?
Under which ambient conditions should the packages be stored (temperature, controlled relative humidity)?
Curling or flatness
The curling of sheet materials depends generally on temperature and conditioning state. So multilayer materials made of materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion or unequal expansion/shrinkage due to deviating hygroscopic tendency may tend to curl caused by a kind of bi-metall effect. In addition to that excessive mechanical stress in the processing of rolls can lead ot curling.
Abrasion test of printings acc. Dr. Ruf method
Determination of abrasion resistance of printings, laqcuers etc. The test can be performed dry (as received), wet (after immersion in water) or after storage in liquid media/filling goods respectively after other pretreatments (sterilization, UV irradiation).
Seal resistance of printings or coatings (heat resitance)
Over sealing of the sample by laboratory sealer against fine paper with smooth or structurated sealing bars, determination of max Ts [°C] till deterioration of printing or laquer (adhesion, discoloration) with constant ps [N/cm²], ts [s].
Blocking test/blocking strength
Testing the blocking tendency of plane packaging materials, in dependence on temperature T [°C], pressure p [MPa] and time t [h]. The evaluation is carried out either by manual test or by determining of blocking force Fmax [N] in a shear test using a tensile tester.
If the sample is to be tested under several conditions, please create the test accordingly several times with the respective parameter settings.
Moisture content/water content (residual moisture)
The choice of the appropriate method depends essentially on the expected moisture content. Higher water contents can be determined gravimetrically well with the drying oven technique. When lower water contents are expected, the water selective Karl Fischer titration should be chosen, as incorrect measurements, for example by other volatile matters can be excluded. The Karl Fischer method is, however, not intended for determination of higher water contents.
Haze/transparency
Method for quantification of the optical properties of transparent or translucent materials (not coulored opaque or metallized). The test method describes the hazing of a film caused by light scattering. A low haze value characterizes a low turbidity equivalent to a good visibility of details of filling goods or labels lying behind or under the film. By increasing the haze value, the "frosted glass effect" increases, i.e. details such as labels are ultimately only recognisable when in direct contact with the film surface.
ASTM D 1003 = calibration without compensation port, DIN ISO 13468 = calibration with compensation port.
The measured values differ slightly, but the measurements are basically carried out according to the same principle.
UV-VIS spectroscopy
UV-VIS spectroscopy
Gloss measurement
Reflectometer measurement to determine the degree of gloss. The measuring angle depends on the surface of the sample (measuring angle: high glossy: 20°, medium glossy: 60°, matt glossy: 85°).
Opacity measurement
The measurements are carried out using a spectrophotometer according to ISO 2471 or DIN 6125. An opacity card (Leneta) type 2 a serves as a black and white base according to DIN 6125.
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