Exploring soda contamination coming from paper straws through ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with an ion mobility-quadrupole time-of-flight analyzer and advanced statistical analysis

This study deals with the migration of compounds from printed straws into a carbonated drink (soda), employing an innovative approach that combines Ultra-High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography with Ion Mobility Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry technology. Nineteen compounds were found to migrate to the soda from the nine samples analyzed with concentrations ranging values from 0.015 to 3.6 mg migrant/kg of soda. Variations in the compounds across obtained from three different manufacturers were found. These differences strongly suggest the use of different additives in the production of straws from the different manufacturers. Additionally, discrepancies in the compounds that migrated from the printed straws produced by one manufacturer were identified. Two photoinitiators, 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone and diphenyl (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)- phosphine oxide and a dye, rhodamine B were found to migrate from the soda to the straws. Particularly interesting was the migration of bis(2-ethylbutyl)phthalate and dioctyl phthalate, both recognized as endocrine disruptors, and 4,4'-methylenedianiline, a primary aromatic amine and suspected carcinogen, which had a migration concentration into the soda surpassing the specific migration limit set by Regulation (EU) No 10/ 2011. The study underscores that, despite straws not being made of plastic, several concerning compounds that migrated from them were additives commonly found in plastic products. This may suggest that paper straws may not be the safest alternative to plastic straws in terms of food safety.