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Two groups of potential migrants were found in Nylon "microwave and roasting bags' (MRBs): volatile compounds were released at cooking temperatures and non-volatile compounds were extracted with methanol and/or water. A dynamic headspace system at 200 degrees C followed by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) was used for determination of volatile compounds. Cyclopentanone (31.7 mg/bag), 2-cyclopentyl cyclopentanone (17.4 mg/bag), hexadecane (2.6 micrograms/bag), heptadecane (3.2 micrograms/bag), octadecane (3.0 micrograms/bag) and epsilon-caprolactam (5.0-35.5 mg/ bag) were the main volatile compounds present in the MRBs. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry were combined for identification and quantification of non-volatile compounds extracted with methanol (46.0 mg/bag). Nylon 6,6 cyclic monomer and cyclic oligomers up to the tetramer and Nylon 6 monomer and cyclic oligomers up to the octamer were identified and quantified, confirming that the plastic was made of Nylon 6,6 and Nylon 6 polymers. The same non-volatile compounds (except Nylon 6 heptamer and octamer) were found to migrate into olive oil at 175 degrees C for 1 h. A total of 0.916 mg/dm2 (19.2 mg/bag) of non-volatile compounds migrated into olive oil (41.8% of those quantified in the plastic material).

Migration of non-volatile and volatile compounds from 'microwave and roasting bags' (MRB), made of Nylon 6,6 (and some Nylon 6), into chicken meat, skin, and juices during roasting (200 degrees C/2 h) in a conventional oven was determined. For measurement of migration of non-volatile compounds, cooked chicken was freeze-dried, extracted with methanol after addition of 2-azacyclononane (internal standard) and the extract cleaned-up using liquid-solid adsorption chromatography (silica gel). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the reverse phase mode using a linear gradient of methanol in water was used to quantify seven Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6 cyclic monomers and oligomers of molecular mass up to 678 daltons. Migration into chicken was 7.48 micrograms/g (8.26 mg/bag; 3.94 micrograms/cm2), 16% of the total non-volatile compounds contained in the MRB material. Individual migrants were also quantified. Migration of one volatile compound, 2-cyclopentyl cyclopentanone, into the roast chicken parts was measured. Extraction with diethyl ether, using a modified Likens-Nickerson system of concurrent steam distillation-solvent extraction with an internal standard (cyclohexanone) was performed for 10 h. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the selected ion mode (SIM) was used for quantification. An average of 14.0 (+/- 4.36) micrograms/bag (or micrograms/chicken) migrated, being 0.08% of the total 2-cyclopentyl cyclopentanone present in MRB. Loss of volatile compounds to the atmosphere is believed to have occurred since there was another, more volatile compound (cyclopentanone), present in MRB, at levels higher than 2-cyclopentyl cyclopentanone, but this was not detected in roast chicken. In general, the transference of MRB components into roast chicken can be considered not to present a hazard.