Food safety relies on the safe testing of food packaging—A brief discussion of the standard system for food packaging inspection.

As a container that comes into direct contact with food, packaging should not react in any way with the product. However, in reality, many food packages pose significant safety risks—such as residual substances in containers, migration of plasticizers, photoinitiators, and even mineral oil compounds—all of which can harm human health and compromise consumers' well-being. To effectively mitigate these safety concerns associated with food packaging, robust packaging testing becomes essential. This article will provide a detailed overview of how packaging reliability testing helps identify potential safety hazards in food packaging, while also highlighting the regulatory frameworks designed to ensure consumer protection.

• The safety performance of food packaging.

The primary safety feature is protection—during food packaging testing, it’s crucial not only to ensure that the packaging safeguards the product inside from damage but also to prevent issues like moisture absorption, mold growth, and spoilage. Another key safety aspect is the inherent safety of the food packaging itself: specifically, that the flexible packaging materials are free from harmful substances. Determining whether the packaging contains any hazardous materials requires thorough testing as part of the overall food packaging evaluation process.

• Safety hazards in food packaging.

From a systems perspective, food packaging undergoes a complete lifecycle that spans raw material production, processing and shaping, and distribution and use. Each stage of the food packaging lifecycle has the potential to pose risks to food safety. Therefore, all three of these stages must be carefully considered during food packaging testing.

• The establishment of a food packaging standards system...

2013 This year, the National Health and Family Planning Commission launched efforts to streamline and consolidate food standards. 2015 The revised version of the Food Safety Law clearly outlines jurisdictional rules for food-related products and has released a draft for public comments on hygiene standards for food-contact materials and articles. Following this, GB 31603-2015 (Food Safety National Standard "General Hygiene Standards for the Production of Food Contact Materials and Products" and GB 9685-2016 (Food Safety National Standard The "Standards for the Use of Additives in Food Contact Materials and Products" have come into effect and are continuously being refined. 2017 Year, GB-4806.1-2016 "National Food Safety Standard "General Safety Requirements for Food Contact Materials and Products" is at 10 The standard system was officially implemented, establishing a universal framework from that point onward. With the establishment of this system, food packaging testing—specifically related to food packaging—has gradually taken shape.

• Changes to the food packaging standards system.

GB-4806.1-2016 It is a universal standard for the safety performance of food-contact materials and products, serving as a guiding framework for the entire industry. It clearly mandates traceability throughout the product supply chain, effectively ensuring the safety of food-contact materials. GB 9685-2016 It is in GB 9685-2008 Revised based on the original version, it specifies the authorized food-contact materials and product additives, which were previously 958 The number has increased to 1294 And it introduces new requirements for specific total migration limits, as well as a rule stating that the allowable limits cannot be added together when certain substances are used simultaneously as either monomers or additives. Meanwhile, for metal elements permitted for use, strictly defined migration limits have been established. Food Packaging Testing In terms of testing method standards, we will shift from establishing approaches based on product categories to developing detection method standards tailored by specific indicators, thereby enhancing the practical application of these standards. Additionally, we’ll introduce enhanced procedures for handling food simulants following migration tests, along with corresponding adjustments to the limit of detection and limit of quantification for food products.

• Issues with food packaging safety standards.

Establishing a system is no overnight achievement—currently, the national standard system for hygiene and safety of new food-contact materials still has several imperfections. For instance, there’s a severe lack of method standards, leaving companies unable to conduct comprehensive type tests and, consequently, preventing them from obtaining the necessary test reports. This situation could lead to regulatory gaps and disruptions in product distribution. Additionally, given the broad scope of food-contact materials and products, the existing product standards currently fail to provide full coverage.

As public awareness of food safety issues continues to grow, so too are consumers' expectations for the safety of food packaging. In recent years, food companies have also been urged to strengthen their commitment to food packaging safety by rigorously adhering to relevant hygiene, quality, and inspection standards during all stages of food packaging testing—ultimately enhancing the overall safety of their products.