ABSTRACT
Packaging materials are used to protect foods against microbiological, chemical, and physical contamination during storage and distribution. However, most food packaging materials are not inert, and therefore reactions may occur between the food and packaging material. Although packaging materials are necessary, they can pose risks to human health and/or affect the quality of the contained food. The quality loss of food products can occur with package failure and/or product–package interactions. The toxicological implications of component migration from packages into foods are another serious problem. Thus, research on food–package interaction is growing. Migration in plastics packaging refers to the transfer of compounds from the plastic to the food product by leaching or diffusion. Direct contact between plastic and a food product can result in leaching of packaging components into the product, changing the flavors of the food.
