Non Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS), are not constituents or functional additives, but rather originate from polymer and additive degradation or impurities in raw materials.

As demand for high-performance packaging grows, designers are creating new shapes and utilizing innovative materials. This trend inevitably leads manufacturers to address NIAS, posing a continuous analytical challenge due to the introduction of many new additives.

Regulatory Framework and Guidelines for NIAS

According to Regulation (EC) no. 1935/2004, food contact materials should not endanger human health, alter food composition, or deteriorate organoleptic characteristics under normal conditions. Consequently, monitoring packaging material components that could migrate into food becomes essential for ensuring quality and safety.

NIAS screening in packaging becomes particularly useful under these circumstances. These substances were first mentioned in Regulation (EU) no. 10/2011, emphasizing their relevance to risk assessment.

EFSA underlined that the approach used for IAS (Intentionally Added Substances) could, in principle, apply to NIAS, as it should guarantee the same degree of safety for all migrating substances. ILSI Europe drew up the first European Guidelines.

NIAS Screening Options

Mérieux NutriSciences offers a comprehensive array of options for NIAS screening, encompassing both targeted and non-targeted analyses to identify a wide range of substances, including elements, volatile, semi-volatile, and non-volatile compounds. This approach allows for the creation of a tailored analytical plan based on specific matrix requirements.

Sophisticated Analytical Approach

To address the growing demand for NIAS screening, Mérieux NutriSciences employs a sophisticated 3-step approach for non-volatile compounds, utilizing liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC ESI-MS/HRMS – Q-Orbitrap). This methodology ensures superior resolution, accuracy, and access to an extensive library of compounds.

The approach comprises:

• A quantitative targeted analysis focusing on the specific migration of nearly 70 common packaging constituents.
• A semi-quantitative targeted analysis of approximately 1500 substances facilitated by internal standards and library checks.
• A semi-quantitative non-targeted analysis to identify any remaining unidentified molecules.

The suggested analytical method guarantees high resolution, increased accuracy and access to a library which is constantly updated.

The approach proposed by Mérieux NutriSciences allows you to obtain food contact material risk assessment by chemical screening and bioassays:

Complementary Testing

Endocrine disruptors testing is complementary to NIAS chemical approach to better assess the safety of food contact materials.