Assessment of baby Bibs. GC-MS screening, migration into saliva and insight of toxicity with QSAR tools

• Published in: Food control 2020-03, Vol.109, p.106951, Article 106951
• Main Authors: Rajbux, Chandisree, Pereira, Joel, Selbourne, Maria do Céu, Costa-Pinto, Ana Rita, Poças, Fátima
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Baby bibs; Food contact materials; Migration; NIAS; Plastics; QSAR; Safety evaluation
• ISSN: 0956-7135; 1873-7129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2019.106951

Plastic 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. •Baby Bibs from Europe were screened for potential migrants.•Migration into saliva render two samples non-compliant.•Thirty substances non-authorised in European or Swiss legislation were detected.•These include phthalates, light stabilizers, flame retardants and photoinitiators.•Monitoring Bibs compliance, industry GMPs and traceability are required.