ABSTRACT
Medium density fiberboard (MDF) is a modern wood-based panel, that is easy to mechanize and has excellent physical properties, that was, as all wood-based panels, developed looking for a better way to use the forest and wood.
The use of MDF in the packaging of fruits and fresh vegetables is growing significantly. Due to its advantages, MDF is a good alternative to plastic packaging and its production and consumption as food contact material (FCM) is increasing in recent years.
MDF is mainly made of wood (~ 88–90 %) and an adhesive (~ 7%) that is used to bond the fibers. This adhesive is usually an amino resin obtained by condensation polymerization of formaldehyde, urea and sometimes a small percentage of melamine.
Currently, no standard exists that can serve as a reference to evaluate the safety of MDF as a FCM used in the packaging of fresh fruits and vegetables. With this purpose, and taking into account knowledge of the raw materials employed in the manufacture of MDF, a methodology is proposed to help in the fulfillment of general food contact regulations as well as analytical methods to determine the content and migration levels of concerned substances, hence warranting the protection of consumer´s health.
