Validation and Application of an LC-MS/MS Method for the Determination of Antioxidants Originating from Commercial Polyethylene Packages and their Migration into Food Simulants

Plastics are remarkable due to their chemical and physical properties and are used in many fields, especially food packaging. To produce the packages, during the manufacturing processes, an array of additives such as plasticisers, stabilisers, antioxidants, lubricants, and pigments is required. Unfortunately, most additives can migrate and contaminate the food they are intended to hold and preserve. Identifying potential migrants is likely the only way to gain knowledge, improve the manufacturing processes, and assess potential health risks related to the migration of additives and their degradation products to food media. Therefore, in this study, commercial polyethylene packages were investigated using validated liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to reliably quantify the content of the antioxidants Irganox 1010 and Irgafos 168-ox and their migration levels to food simulants representing foods having hydrophilic and lipophilic properties. The results revealed the highly varying amount of antioxidants in different types of polyethylene food contact materials.