As an associated partner, we are supporting the European research project "Metrology for Food Safety in the Circular Economy: Targeting and Screening Methods for Contaminants in Food and Recycled Packaging", or "Screen Food" for short, for three years. The project aims to make food and food contact materials safe in the long term. To this end, measurement methods for the detection of contaminants in food and food packaging are being developed. In addition, the harmonization of these measurement methods is to be promoted throughout Europe through the development of European standards.
The challenge of food safety
Food safety is of central importance in order to protect end consumers from possible harm caused by contaminated food. In Europe, we have a very high standard in this regard and safety is a priority in EU and Swiss legislation. Another focus of EU policy is the circular economy and the development of a sustainable food system. The aim is to minimize food waste and environmental impact and maximize consumer well-being. As part of the Green Deal, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) was adopted. As a result, more recycled and sustainable packaging materials are expected to come onto the market in the future.
As food interacts with its packaging and can therefore absorb contaminants, the use of recyclate in food contact materials exacerbates the challenge of food safety. However, in order not to play the circular economy and food safety off against each other, research is being carried out into analytical methods that enable both by allowing the safety of secondary packaging to be assessed in a standardized manner.
Today, it is difficult for decision-makers, analytical laboratories and monitoring authorities to carry out and evaluate measurements of contaminants. On the one hand, it is often unclear which contaminants to look for. On the other hand, existing standard methods for the new packaging materials are sometimes inadequate or there are still no standard methods for certain matrices or their combinations. However, consistency and accuracy in the assessment and treatment of contaminants are key to making informed decisions and maintaining the integrity of the food supply chain.
This gap is to be closed by this research project. The aim is to improve the analytical methods for quantifying contaminants and to harmonize them across Europe. This will ensure a high level of food safety throughout the entire production and distribution process.
Development of reference methods and reference materials
As part of the project, reference methods and reference materials for the quantification of contaminants in food and food packaging are being developed with special consideration of secondary materials.
The project focuses on harmful mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH (Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons) and MOAH (Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons)) as well as per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAS (Per- and PolyfluoroAlkyl Substances)). Reference methods and materials are to be developed for these chemicals, among others, in order to be able to detect contamination in food and food packaging. These metrological instruments will help the industry to offer safe food in sustainable packaging.
Project consortium and international cooperation
The project consortium consists of national metrology institutes, research institutions and industrial companies from EU and non-EU countries. ScreenFood is coordinated by INRIM - Instituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica. Our task is to build a stakeholder platform to ensure that the results of the project are actually used and applied in the industry to promote the circularity of packaging. Furthermore, with our knowledge of the circular economy and the use of secondary materials, in particular plastic, paper and cardboard, we contribute to the project by investigating the relevant materials and addressing the industry's questions on the subject.
Are you interested in getting involved in the project as a stakeholder? Then get in touch with Dr. Melanie Haupt.
Contact person
Dr. Melanie Haupt(melanie.haupt@realcycle.ch, +41 44 537 82 80)
Client
Euromet; Swiss participation in the project made possible by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)
Project partners
- INRIM (National Metrological Institute, I)
- BAM (Designated Institute for Metrology in Chemistry, D)
- GUM (National Metrological Institute, PL)
- IMBiH (National Metrological Institute, BIH)
- JSI (Research Organization for Pure and Applied Research in Science and Technology (Designated Institute for the Content of Trace Elements in Organic and Inorganic Materials), SLO)
- NIVA (Institute for Water Research (Designated Institute for Selected Chemical Analyses in Water), N)
- TUBITAK (Research Institute, TRK)
- ZRS Koper (Metrological Institute, SLO)
- Chiron (company for the production, certification and distribution of reference materials, N)
- CVUA FR (reference laboratory of the European Union for halogenated persistent organic pollutants in feed and food, D)
- DTU (National Food Institute of the Technical University, DK)
- EUROLAB (European Federation of National Associations of Laboratories for Measurement, Testing and Analysis, EUR)
- IAPR (Laboratory for Chemical Metrology, GR)
- MRI (Federal Research Institute for Nutrition and Food, Germany)
- Natureef (PL)
- Sciensano (scientific institute, B)
- UT (Institute of Chemistry, EST)
- AS
- GEA (oil production company of quality edible oils, SLO)
- Gerstel (developer and manufacturer of laboratory equipment, D)
- JOTIS (food manufacturer, GR)
- KB Folie Polska (design and production of printed packaging, PL)
- Nestlé Waters (reference central laboratory for Nestlé Waters, F)
- KLZH (Cantonal Laboratory Zurich, CH)
- METAS (National Metrology Institute, CH)
- SQTS (Swiss Quality Testing Services, CH)