The safety of plastic packaging during micowave heating of food

Research leader

Prof. Minna Hakkarainen

Project information

During microwave heating food is often processed inside a polymer package. A point of concern is the possible migration of low molar mass compounds from plastic packaging to food. From the consumer perspective it is important to know that the quality and safety of the food is not compromised during microwave heating. Since it is expected that this type of processing will increase due to the convenience of microwaveable foods for consumers, there is a need to study the migration from food packaging to food during microwave heating and also to develop reliable migration testing methods. During the project migration from common micromeal cups and other kinds of microwaveable plastic packaging to different food simulants and real foods during microwave heating will be studied. Especially the effect of different food types and correlation between migration to food simulants and real foods will be evaluated. The influence of packaging materials, microwave parameters and different food simulants to the type and amount of migrants will be investigated to determine the food/packaging interactions during microwave heating.