Migration of phenolic brominated flame retardants from contaminated food contact articles into food simulants and foods

ABSTRACT

Several food contact articles (FCAs) contaminated with unapproved brominated flame retardants (BFRs) purchased in the US market were analysed and subjected to migration tests. Migration tests were performed in food simulants (water, 3% acetic acid, 10% ethanol and 50% ethanol) and food (milk, coffee and chicken bouillon soup) to evaluate the BFRs mass transfer from the contaminated FCA. The BFRs studied, 2,4,6-tribromophenol (TBP), 3,3ʹ,5,5ʹ-tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) were analysed by UHPLC-MS/MS. The method validation parameters were r² ≥ 0.999, LOD ≤ 0.3 ng mL⁻¹, and RSD ≤ 1.7 % (n = 7). HBCD was not stable under our migration conditions and was not detected in any FCA, food or food simulant, including positive controls. Phenolic BFRs (TBP and TBBPA) migrated at concentrations ranging from non-detected to 73 µg kg⁻¹ in food simulants, and from 1 to 23 µg kg⁻¹ in food. Phenolic BFRs migrated into 50% ethanol food simulant at higher concentrations than in more aqueous food simulants and foods.

KEYWORDS:

• Brominated flame retardants
• food contact materials
• contamination
• plastics
• food simulants
• food
• migration
• TBBPA
• HBCD
• TBP
• UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Lili Fox Vélez, Office of Regulatory Science, CFSAN, for scientific writing services. The authors are also grateful to Luke Ackerman (FDA-CFSAN) for his discussions and review.