Materials that come into contact with food can potentially release harmful substances, such as chemicals, heavy metals, or toxins, into the food, posing a risk to human health. Additionally, food contact materials may alter the sensory properties of the food, impacting product quality and consumer satisfaction.
Food Contact Material (FCM)
Food Contact Material (FCM) refers to any material that comes into direct or indirect contact with food during its production, processing, storage, or consumption. These materials are used to make packaging, containers, machinery, and utensils that may touch food.
Food Contact Materials (FCMs) are primarily classified into two categories: single-use (disposable) and repeated-use (reusable).
Examples of food contact materials include plastics, metals, glass, ceramics, paper, and coatings.
Why food Contact Material Testing?
Food Contact Material Testing is crucial to ensure that materials in contact with food are safe, meet regulatory standards, protect consumers from health hazards, maintain the quality of food, and promote environmental sustainability.
Companies that do not ensure the safety of their food contact materials face potential recalls, legal consequences, and harm to their brand reputation. Rigorous testing mitigates these risks by confirming the safety of products before they are released to the market.
It also plays a vital role in preventing chemical migration, microbial contamination, and the introduction of allergens into food products.
Regulations and safety standards ensure that these materials do not transfer harmful substances to the food, which could pose a risk to human health. Compliance with these regulations is critical to maintaining food safety and quality.
How can GICG help?
Food contact material testing involves assessing materials like packaging, utensils, containers, and processing equipment that are intended to come into contact with food. The purpose is to ensure they are safe and meet regulatory standards, with the primary objective being to prevent the release of harmful substances into food that could pose health risks to consumers.
GICG provides comprehensive testing for a variety of food contact materials, including:
- Plastics, rubber, and silicone commonly used in food packaging, drink bottles, kitchenware, and gasket/closure sealing
- Ceramics, glass, and enamel primarily used in reusable items like cups, plates, bowls, or kitchenware.
- Metal alloys or metal films with plastic/resin top laminations, suitable for both single-use (disposable) and reusable kitchenware such as forks, spoons, or packaging.
- Paper used in disposable packaging, paper cups, and plates.
- Wood, typically used in chopping boards, bowls, and forks.
- Coatings applied to food contact materials such as metals or paper.
- Fabrics used in tablecloths or food wraps.
- Machinery used for food processing, along with equipment for storing, cooking, and serving food, is referred to as the complete finished FCM product. Examples include kitchen appliances like coffee machines, which contain metal alloy and plastic FCM components. Depending on the destination country, each component must undergo FCM testing to meet local regulations.
GICG offers a complete range of food grade tests on most types of food contact materials including the following test scopes:
- EN 1186 / EN 13130 / LFGB / BfR recommendation
- FDA 21 CFR 175 / 177 section & GRAS (General Recognize as safe)
- Thailand FCM requirement
GICG’s testing laboratories can support your products’ compliance with the FCM regulations governing your target market.
For more information on how GICG’s testing laboratories can support your products’ compliance with the FCM regulations governing your target market, please reach out to us via email at services.sg@gicgrp.com or visit us: https://gicgrp.com/testing/
