Printing inks are widely used by producer and retailers of packaging to give information about the characteristics of packaged food products and to whet consumers’ interest.
Printing inks are very complex and variable mixtures, and they have specific characteristics about their application on the substrate during the printing process, the environmental impact and, for food contact
materials, their toxicological and migration properties.
Set-off
Set-off is the mechanical transfer of ink, or some components of the ink, from a printed surface (not in direct contact with the food) to the surface intended to come into contact with food.
The set-off depends on several variables, such as the time of contact, the pressure during the contact, the type of ink and the procedure applied in the printing process.
Set-off can cause the migration of potentially dangerous components or substances (colorants, binders, solvents, additives) to the surface intended to come into contact with food and, as a consequence, it can contaminate the food itself.
Mérieux NutriSciences laboratories planned and developed analytical protocols to evaluate the transfer of substances from the printed surfaces to the ones intended to come into contact with food. The risk assessment approach for printed materials covers all types of packaging (paper, plastics, sustainable new generation materials).
The long experience in this field and the high availability of constantly updated, cutting-edge tools allow customers to evaluate this complex aspect relating to the safety of food contact materials, especially when little information on the composition of the inks used is available.
