Mathematical model for the migration of plasticisers from food contact materials into solid food

An equation was derived to describe the migration of plasticisers from food contact material into the solid foodstuff. Migration studies for sixteen different food/food contact material systems under different storage conditions were conducted and the experimental data obtained were found to fit the proposed equation well. The equation fitting, based on non-linear least squares analysis, was done by an iterative computer program. Further, the diffusion coefficients of the plasticisers and the partition coefficients of plasticisers between foodstuff and food contact materials were also determined by fitting experimental data to the equation. These parameters would be crucial if the equation were used for the prediction of the extent of migration. The proposed equation is simplified such that it can be more easily applied. The simplified equation has been shown to estimate the extent of migration to within ±20% of the experimental values using appropriate values of diffusion coefficients and partition coefficients determined in this work and the amounts of plasticisers in the packaging materials.