Assessment of heavy metal leaching from packaging materials into fruit juices: Perspective from Southern India

• Assessment of surface morphology of packaging materials by FE-SEM imaging • Comparative analysis of physicochemical changes in fruit juices across different packaging materials over time. • Leaching of heavy metals from packaging materials to juices over storage period • Correlation of material degradation and metal leaching with sensory quality and consumer acceptability. This study evaluated the migration of selected heavy metals, namely vanadium, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, from commonly used fruit juice packaging materials into packaged fruit juices during a five-month storage period. Changes in the physical properties of the juices and the structural characteristics of the packaging materials were examined to understand possible leaching behaviour during storage. Surface morphology analysis of the packaging materials revealed progressive surface alterations over six months, indicating material degradation that may contribute to metal migration. The analytical findings showed that the packaging materials contained comparatively higher concentrations of the studied heavy metals at the initial stage, which decreased over the storage period, suggesting transfer into the juice matrix. Heavy metal concentrations in the fruit juice samples showed a progressive increase in over time, and in several instances, the levels exceeded the recommended regulatory limits. Statistical evaluation confirmed significant temporal variations in heavy metal concentrations within the packaging materials, whereas changes in the juice samples were not statistically significant across the storage duration. The sensory acceptability of the fruit juices was qualitatively assessed using a hedonic scale, indicating no marked adverse changes in consumer acceptance over the storage period. Overall, the study highlights the potential for heavy metal migration from packaging materials into fruit juices during storage and underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and improved packaging material selection to ensure product safety.