Browsing by Author "Pereira, Joel"
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- Assessment of baby Bibs. GC-MS screening, migration into saliva and insight of toxicity with QSAR toolsPublication . Rajbux, Chandisree; Pereira, Joel; Selbourne, Maria do Céu; Costa-Pinto, Ana Rita; Poças, FátimaPlastic baby Bibs are, according to the European legislation, food contact materials. Therefore, compositional and migration limits applicable to plastics should be observed. This work aimed at identifying potential migrants in Bibs from European market and determining the migration into artificial saliva. Bibs were subjected to screening analyses (GC-MS). Thirty substances non-authorised in European or Swiss legislation were detected: phthalates, light stabilizers, flame retardants and photoinitiators. Irgacure 184, Cyclohexanone, Tinuvin 770, Isophorone and 9-Octadecenamide, (Z)- were detected in saliva after contact with selected Bibs. The migration values render two samples noncompliant although results should be interpreted with caution given the experimental conditions. In order to gain insight on the toxicity of migrants, QSAR tools were applied. Substances non-evaluated or not-listed were analysed with free software regarding their Cramer class (ToxTree and their predicted mutagenicity, carcinogenicity and developmental toxicity (VEGA). Results indicate that surveillance is required: monitoring Bibs'compliance, application of GMPs and traceability.
- Assessment of pfas in commercial moulded fibre catering and takeaway packaging: environmental and food safety implicationsPublication . Monteiro Vieira, Tiago; Pereira, Joel; Selbourne, Maria do Céu; Poças, FátimaPer- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of over 5,000 chemicals with amphiphilic properties and environmental persistence, posing challenges to the food packaging industry, particularly in moulded fibre trays. These substances are used to impart water and grease resistance in moulded fibre products, commonly found in catering and takeaway packaging. However, the incorporation of PFAS into biobased materials contradicts the principles of the circular economy, which prioritise sustainability, biodegradability, and plastic waste reduction. As the demand for eco-friendly packaging grows, moulded fibre materials, whether virgin or derived from recycled feedstocks, have gained popularity for their sustainability potential. Despite these environmental benefits, the presence of PFAS raises concerns about food safety, particularly due to possible chemical migration during "wet-end" treatments in production. Certain PFAS, such as Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids (PFCAs) and Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonic Acids (PFSAs), are hepatotoxic. The toxicity of PFOA led to its inclusion in the 2020 Stockholm Convention to limit its use. Longer-chain PFCAs/PFSAs, such as PFOA, are more toxic, prompting the increased use of shorter-chain compounds like PFBA. This study evaluates PFAS presence in ten commercially available paper-based catering and takeaway packaging products, including both 2D paper and 3D moulded fibre articles, derived from sugarcane and bamboo. Analytical methods, such as HPLC-MS/MS with Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM), were employed to identify target PFAS compounds belonging to five major chemical classes: PFCAs, PFSAs, Fluorotelomer Acids (FTAs), Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonamides (FOSAs), and Polyfluoroalkyl Phosphate Esters (PAPs). Samples were extracted with 95% ethanol at 60°C for 2 hours before HPLC-MS analysis. GC-MS/MS screening with dichloromethane/95% ethanol extraction solutions complemented the analysis. Metal analysis was also performed, after hot water extraction (EN647:1993). Optical microscopy provided insights on the structural characteristics of the moulded fibres. Preliminary results showed varying PFAS levels, with PFCAs and FTAs being most prevalent. Specific compounds such as PFBA and PFHxA were detected at higher concentrations, while lower levels of PFSAs (e.g., PFOS) were found. No FOSAs or PAPs were identified. These results underscore the potential for PFAS migration into food, therefore migration studies will be conducted.
- Biocides in food packaging: safety concerns and migration insightsPublication . Vieira, Tiago Monteiro; Singh, Srishti; Pereira, Joel; Poças, FátimaIntroduction: Context: Biocides such as BIT (1,2-Benzisothiazolin-3-one), CMIT (Chloromethylisothiazolinone), and MIT (Methylisothiazolinone) are commonly used in food packaging to preserve materials and ensure safety due to their antimicrobial properties. Problem: The potential migration of these biocides into food contact materials (FCMs) raises concerns, especially since their behavior under various conditions is not well understood. Objective: This study aims to characterize the extraction behavior of BIT, CMIT, and MIT from Kraft paper, focusing on its potential migration when used in food packaging. Results & Conclusions: The extraction of biocides from food packaging materials is influenced by the solvent type, temperature, and biocide properties (e.g., log Kow). BIT and CMIT showed higher solubility and extraction in ethanol, while MIT has a stronger affinity for water, reducing its extraction in ethanol. The complex interactions between temperature, solvent type, and the Kraft paper matrix affect biocide availability and migration patterns. Findings highlight the need for rigorous standards in food safety regarding biocide use in food packaging, emphasizing the need for further research of biocide behavior migration in various matrices.
- Determination of phthalates in olive oil from European marketPublication . Pereira, Joel; Selbourne, Maria do Céu; Poças, FátimaPhthalates are ubiquitous contaminants in the environment and consumer products. They are used as plasticizers in many plastics used for packaging and articles for food processing, handling and storage. Some phthalates and their metabolites are known to be toxic to reproduction and endocrine disruptors, and consumer exposure has been a concern. Olive oil is of great nutritional and economic importance and its contribution to overall dietary exposure to phthalates may be relevant. This work aimed at analysing phthalates occurrence in olive oil samples collected in the European market. An alternative method for sample introduction into the chromatographic system was compared to the traditional liquid extraction followed by concentration prior analyses. The ChromatoProbe method presented similar performance regarding the limits of detection and quantification but, contrary to other matrixes like wine, does not eliminate the need for prior liquid extraction. The main advantage relies on not requiring the concentration step and on decreasing the system stoppages for maintenance. Regarding the olive oil samples collected, DEHP and DINP were detected in all samples with an average concentration of 1.31 and 1.52 mgkg(-1) and with a highest concentration of 7.52 and 6.29 mgkg(-1), respectively. Results show 4/16 samples with DEHP concentration higher than the migration limits applicable under food contact materials regulation. One of the samples is pomace oil and therefore the source of contamination may well be the solvent used in the extraction process. But the other 3 samples are extra-virgin and virgin olive oils. So it is still important to develop efforts in tracing back the source of contamination.
- Effect of non-thermal processing on the aromatic profile of Cantaloupe melon juicePublication . Georgiev, Radoslav; Pereira, Joel; Fundo, Joana F.; Miller, Fátima A.; Brandao, Teresa R.S.; Chalova, Vesela I.; Silva, Cristina L. M.
- Effect of nonthermal processing on the aromatic profile of Cantaloupe melon juicePublication . Georgiev, Radoslav; Pereira, Joel; Fundo, Joana F.; Miller, Fátima A.; Brandão, Teresa R. S.; Chalova, Vesela I.; Silva, Cristina C. L.
- Measurement of oxygen transmission rate through foamed materials for bottle closuresPublication . Poças, Maria F.; Ferreira, Belmiro; Pereira, Joel; Hogg, TimThe determination of the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) through closures in glass bottles is becoming increasingly important for quality control of different batches and for development purposes. The Mocon method for measuring OTR is globally accepted and used in different applications. However, one of the major drawbacks this method presents when applied to bottle/closures systems is the long time required to obtain stable measurements when 40 mm long closures are tested. This paper describes a method to obtain OTR values with samples of reduced thickness with much shorter measurements time, since the condition of steady state during measurements is achieved faster and compares the estimated full-length commercial closure OTR with experimental values
- Multifunctional properties of PBAT with hemp (Cannabis sativa) micronised fibres for food packaging: cast films and coated paperPublication . Lamsaf, Hafsae; Singh, Srishti; Pereira, Joel; Poças, FátimaHemp (Cannabis sativa) stalk fibres from industry residues were incorporated into polybutylene adipate terephthalate, a synthetic biodegradable polyester, to produce films and paper coatings. The lignocellulosic components and the chemical composition of the fibres were analysed, and the results highlight the bioactivity due to cannabinoids, alkanoids, and lignin, among others, making the fibres attractive for active food packaging. The incorporation, without chemical modification, of 2% (w/w) hemp in the PBAT matrix increased the water vapour permeability of PBAT around 22%. The impact on mechanical properties was determined, and the results show that the PBAT/hemp film is less stretchable but stronger than the pure PBAT film. The incorporation of hemp enhanced significantly the compostability of PBAT. The PBAT/hemp films and paper coatings composted two times faster than those using pure PBAT.
- Photoinitiators use in printed baby bibs and their migration into Tenax® by gas chromatography–mass spectrometryPublication . Galbiati, Edoardo; Pereira, Joel; Selbourne, Maria do Céu; Poças, FátimaA simple and accessible gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method was developed to determine photoinitiators (PIs) in plastics for food contact and their migration into Tenax®. The method showed analytical performance suitable for compliance assessment. The limit of detection values found were as follows: for benzophenone and 4‐(4‐morpholinyl)benzaldehyde ~3 μg kg−1 food (6 dm2 kg−1 food), for 4‐methylbenzophenone and ethyl‐4‐(dimethylamino)‐benzoate ~1.5 μg kg−1 food and for 2‐ethylhexyl 4‐(dimethylamino)benzoate ~43 μg kg−1 food. For all the other PIs studied, limits of detection lower than 1 μg kg−1 food were found. The method was applied to analyse samples of plastic baby bibs collected in European market. Results indicate that several unauthorised PIs are in use to print bibs. The most commonly detected PIs were benzophenone detected in nearly all samples and isopropylthioxanthone quantified in 12 out of 22 samples. Several non‐evaluated PIs were detected: triphenyl phosphate, 2‐ethylanthraquinone, 2,2‐dimethoxy‐2‐phenylacetophenone, 4‐(4‐methylphenyltio)benzophenone, 1‐hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone and 4,4′‐bis(diethylamino)‐benzophenone. These two latter PIs were found at the highest concentration (more than 100 μgg−1). Testing a selection of samples for migration into Tenax® gave results exceeding the applicable migration limit for 1‐hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone with 0.532 mg kg−1 (specific migration limit = 0.01 mg kg−1) and for methyl 2‐benzoylbenzoate with 0.182 mg kg−1 (specific migration limit = 0.05 mg kg−1). Although the results may be affected by a certain overestimation degree given the experimental conditions, they certainly flag an area of potential interest for surveillance and more detailed risk evaluation, particularly because bibs are often not seen by industry as food contact materials, and surveillance actions are not systematically acted.
- A quantitative approach to assess the contribution of seals to the permeability of water vapour and oxygen in thermosealed packagesPublication . Reinas, Isabel; Oliveira, Jorge; Pereira, Joel; Mahajan, Pramod; Poças, Maria de FátimaShelf-life of many foods is largely dependent on the barrier to moisture and oxygen of the respective package. Barrier is often assessed by measuring the transmission rate of films. However, in thermosealed packages leaks and weak seals can give rise to increased total mass transfer entering the system and reaching the food. While leaks are random defects and are associated to early failure, lower integrity of regular seals tends to affect whole batch causing a decrease in the product shelf-life. In the present work the contribution of the seals to total permeability of packages was assessed by measuring transmission rate of the film and of thermosealed packages of different sizes, therefore with different seals length. Packages made of PA/PE and PVDC coated PET/PE and their respective films were tested for moisture and oxygen transmission rate at different temperature and relative humidity. Results indicate that industrial regular produced seals can account for ca. 25% of the total mass transfer through the system. This decrease of the package barrier as compared to the material barrier will have a significant impact on the product shelf-life and it should be considered in the packaging design process.