Food and beverage can coatings: A review on chemical analysis, migration, and risk assessment

Abstract

The internal surface of food and beverage cans is generally covered with polymeric coatings to preserve food and protect metal substrate from corrosion.Coating materials are complex formulations that contain different starting substances (e.g., monomers, prepolymers, additives, etc.) and in addition during the manufacture of the material several compounds can be formed (e.g., reaction products, degradation products, etc.). These substances have the potential to migrate into the food. Many of them have not been identified and only some have been toxicologically evaluated. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review on the analytical methods used for the identification of potential migrants in can coatings. The migration and exposure to chemicals migrating from can coatings are also reviewed and discussed so far, which is essential for risk assessment. Moreover, a brief section on the current status of the legislation on varnishes and coatings for food contact in Europe is also presented. Liquid chromatography coupled to diode array and fluorescence detectors and particularly to mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry seem to be the techniques of choice for the identification of potential migrants in can coatings. Some studies have reported migration levels of BPA (bisphenol A) and BADGE (bisphenol A diglycidyl ether) and derivatives exceeding the specific migration limits set in the European legislation. On the whole, low dietary exposure to migrants from can coatings has been reported. However, it is interesting to highlight that in these studies the combined exposure to multiple chemicals has not been considered.

The Impact of Temperature Conditions on the Manufacturing Process and Mechanical Behavior of Beverage Can Ends during Operation

“…Before baking, AA5182 coils are H19 tempered, but after baking, they are in the recovered stage H48, which results in a decrease in strength and hardness and an increase in elongation [ 22 ]. The surface of can end stock is covered with polymeric coatings [ 27 ] on both sides of the coil, serving the dual purpose of protecting the final product from corrosion and acting as a lubricant during the stamping processes in the manufacturing process [ 28 ].…”

Criteria and methodologies for determining the causes of swelling of canned tomatoes in tinplate containers

“…Similar considerations apply to tomato preserves packaged in coated tinplate cans. For these containers, the interaction between traditional tinplate and canned foods can be minimized by resorting to the use of coated tinplate cans, thus expanding the different classes of acidic and saline food products (Chang, 2021; Lestido‐Cardama et al., 2022; Simal‐Gándara, 1999). From a phenomenological point of view, the internal corrosion of a coated can follows the same scheme as that described above for the uncoated cans.…”

A Review of Antimicrobial Polymer Coatings on Steel for the Food Processing Industry

“…Recent trends in the global food grade metal coating market reflect an increasing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable coatings, aligning with consumer preferences for healthier and environmentally conscious products. Traditional polymers employed as internal surface protective coatings for food preservation and metal substrate corrosion protection include polyurethane, silicone, epoxy resins [ 25 ], coal-tar epoxy, polyvinyl chloride, polyimides, and fluorinated compounds such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE), perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA), and fluorinated perfluoroethylenepropylene (FEP) [ 26 ].…”