Choosing the right adhesive is key for flexible packaging applications.
Food safety has long been a concern for packaging material manufacturers and the packaging and food industry. In addition to plasticizers and mineral oils, special attention has to be paid to primary aromatic amines (PAAs). Dennis Bankmann, Ph.D., Product Development, Loctite Liofol Europe, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, explains where risks exist in flexible packaging and what steps the packaging and food industry can take to ensure highest safety.
PAAs are a group of chemical substances from the wider group of amines. PAAs specifically carry an aromatic residue. They are used industrially in applications like manufacturing azo dyes and certain polymers. We know that certain PAAs present a toxicological concern as they have been identified as carcinogenic. Because of this specific hazard, PAAs stand out among the non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) found in flexible packaging. This means that special attention must be paid to ensure that they do not migrate into food at detectable levels.