Polymer-related additives in honey: occurrence patterns and evidence of migration from food-contact materials

Honey is commonly used as a bio-indicator of environmental contamination; however, the contribution of polymer-derived additives from food-contact materials remains poorly characterised. This study investigated 38 honey samples originating from European countries, predominantly from the Czech Republic, including both local beekeeper-produced and retail honey samples. Pesticide residues were detected only sporadically, whereas polymer-derived additives were ubiquitous. High-molecular-weight phthalates were present in 31 of 32 beekeeper samples (median 174.2 ng/g), and low-molecular-weight phthalates in 28 samples (median 141.1 ng/g). Non-phthalate plasticisers, UV stabilisers, photoinitiator-related compounds and degradation products of polymer antioxidants were also frequently detected. In addition to commonly monitored additives, several less frequently reported compounds were identified, including benzophenone, an oxaspiro-type antioxidant degradation product, and a bisphenol A transformation product, indicating complex material-associated contamination profiles beyond routinely targeted analytes. Contamination index analysis indicated a dominant contribution of material-associated compounds, while pesticide-derived contamination remained low. Observed patterns suggest two partially distinct pathways: environmentally-derived inputs linked to landscape exposure, and material-associated inputs related to processing, storage and food-contact materials. The frequent occurrence of lipophilic additives further suggests that beeswax may act as a reservoir facilitating transfer into honey. These findings highlight honey as a valuable indicator matrix for assessing the occurrence of polymer-derived contaminants associated with modern food-contact materials and anthropogenic chemical pressure.