Primary aromatic amines in paper cups, paper straws, and sausage casings

Primary aromatic amines (PAAs) are organic compounds with an aromatic ring linked to an amine group. They are used in printing inks to produce azo pigments, which give vibrant colours. PAAs can migrate from food packaging into food and pose health risks, as several are classified as human carcinogens or presumed carcinogenic under European REACH regulations. This study investigates the migration of PAAs from printed paper straws, printed paper coffee cups, and sausage casings, to assess exposure levels. Yellow ink, with and without isocyanate, was used to examine its effect on PAAs migration. Targeted mass spectrometry methods were used to quantify the PAAs migrating from these materials. The study found that paper cups, paper straws, and sausage casings are safe regarding PAAs migration. However, the presence of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) and other contaminants remains a possibility, with polyamide oligomers identified as potential NIAS in sausage casings. Simulants were also tested to evaluate their effectiveness in PAAs migration analysis, with 10% ethanol indicating to be as effective as 3% acetic acid.