In recent years, there has been a notable prevalence of food safety concerns featured prominently in the media, capturing widespread attention across various demographics. The safety standards governing food contact materials represent a critical aspect of this discourse. In this regard, Hangzhou-Mei Testing (HQTS-QAI) is poised to offer valuable insights into the realm of food contact materials.
What are Food Contact Materials?
Food Contact Materials (FCM), also known as Food Contact Material, encompass substances that come into contact with food during the ordinary use of a product. While these materials are not food themselves, their quality profoundly impacts food safety. Internationally and domestically, ensuring the safety of food contact materials is considered an integral component of overall food safety protocols. Examples of food contact materials include cutlery, bowls, chopsticks, spoons, cups, dishes, and other tableware, as well as washing utensils, cooking implements, and kitchenware. Additionally, paper containers, metal containers, glassware, plastic containers, plastic packaging bags/films, and other food packaging containers and utensils fall within this category. Moreover, kitchen appliances such as dishwashers, juicers, blenders, coffee machines, electric kettles, rice cookers, and induction cookers, as well as children's products like baby bottles, pacifiers, and drinking cups, are subject to considerations regarding food contact material safety.
What are the classifications of Food Contact Materials?
According to internationally recognized classification methods, materials and utensils that come into contact with food are categorized as follows: rubber products, glass products, ceramic products, silicone products, plastic products, metal products, paper products, wood products, among others. These product categories encompass food packaging materials, food containers and utensils, kitchenware, household food processing equipment, food production and processing machinery, as well as kitchen appliances, among others.
Why should Food Contact Materials be tested?
As societal living standards advance, there is a heightened societal awareness concerning food safety and the integrity of Food Contact Materials (FCM). FCM, whether in direct or indirect contact with food during daily usage, represents the primary interface with food products. If their safety cannot be assured, substandard or inappropriate FCM not only fails to safeguard food but also poses the risk of harmful substance migration from the materials to the food itself. This migration compromises the sensory quality of food and poses potential health hazards. Consequently, the safety of FCM is tantamount to ensuring overall food safety. FCM of inferior quality has emerged as a significant source of food contamination.
In recent years, international regulations have mandated that products exported to the European Union and the United States meet stringent testing and certification standards, necessitating the acquisition of qualified product test reports—a process commonly referred to as "food grade testing". Furthermore, both e-commerce platforms and supermarkets now mandate that related food contact materials, such as kitchen appliances, possess pertinent food contact material testing reports as part of their compliance requirements.