Is recycled newspaper suitable for food contact materials? Technical grade mineral oils from printing inks

Abstract

Recycled paper and board used in food packaging materials (boxes, paper bags) often cause migration of mineral oil into food at levels which are unacceptable according to present toxicological assessments. When foods in recycled board are densely packed into larger boxes or onto pallets, most of the hydrocarbons up to n-C20 may migrate into the packed food within a few weeks, those up to n-C28 at a decreasing rate. Unprinted recycled board contained 300-1,000 mg/kg mineral oil