Identification of hazards associated with non-intentionally added substances in a food contact polymer

ToxMinds was tasked by a petrochemical company to assess the toxicological hazard of and derive MRLs for non-intentionally added substances in a food contact polymer.

We have been engaged by a multinational petrochemical company to assess the presence of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) in a food contact polymer (FCP) that were identified following the change of a catalyst within the polymer manufacturing process. We first worked with the client’s analytical experts to get a suitable analytical characterisation of the NIAS in comparison to previously approved extractable profile of the FCP. Identified new NIAS were assessed for safety (including derivation of MRL) using QSAR modelling and analogue/SAR-based read-across approaches. Additionally, an in vitro genotoxicity testing programme was conducted on our recommendation to ensure the absence of any genotoxicity issues of the new NIAS profile as well as to strengthen the overall assessment.