Improvement of Testing of Fluorescent Whitening Agents in Paper Food Packaging and Containers

Jikibara Takayuki, Tawara Eriko, Tang Chen Ying, Tozaki Eishun, Miyagawa Takashi

doi:10.2524/jtappij.59.1206

Use of fluorescent whitening agents in paper for containers directly in contact with food is prohibited, and checks are done according to the official method in Kanshoku No. 244. Because collection order and guidance for paper products not used fluorescent whitening agents were issued by public health centar the year before last, we researched this issue and found that results from testing per Kanshoku No. 244 carried out by various organizations differed.<br>A principal cause of this was inappropriate pH conditions during dyeing gauze with fluorescent whitening agents, which hampered dyeing and thus affected the fluorescence intensity of the gauze, and the criterion for confirming fluorescence were inappropriate. We notified the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare through the Japan Paper Association of these problems. A new notice was issued to improve Kanshoku No. 244 on January 7, 2004 ; the dyeing pH was changed and reference photographs for determination were provided.<br>However, the results obtained in accordance with the new notice differed among registered inspection organizations. Reproducibility of test results is necessary and we examined factors that affected test results. The result was that light and the pH of the solution when test gauze was prepared had a substantial effect on the testing. Thus, a test method with reproducibility was established through strict regulation of conditions of test gauze preparation and use of reference gauze for comparison of the sample's fluorescence intensity.

Improvement of Testing of Fluorescent Whitening Agents in Paper Food Packaging and Containers

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