Overall Migration
Overall migration determines the content of non-volatile substances transferred from food contact materials to foods or food simulants. The migration of substances from plastics is a significant concern in ensuring food safety and consumer health. EU Regulation 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles has set out an overall migration limit (OML) value of 10 mg/dm2 or 60 mg/kgfood. Commonly used food simulants include 10% Ethanol, 3% Acetic acid, 20% Ethanol, 50% Ethanol and 95% Ethanol.
Food Simulants
Food simulants are substances used in laboratory testing to simulate the interactions between food and packaging materials, helping to assess the potential migration of substances from packaging into food. Commonly used food simulants include 10% Ethanol, 3% Acetic acid, 20% Ethanol, 50% Ethanol and 95% Ethanol.
Simulant A
Ethanol 10% (v/v)
For hydrophilic foods and able to extract hydrophilic substances
Simulant B
Acetic acid 3% (w/v)
For foods with a pH below 4.5
Simulant C
Ethanol 20% (v/v)
For alcoholic foods with an alcohol content up to 20%
Simulant D1
Ethanol 50% (v/v)
For alcoholic foods with an alcohol content above 20% and oil in water emulsions
Simulant D2
Ethanol 95% (v/v)
For lipophilic foods and able to extract lipophilic substances or contain free fat at the surface