2. Regulatory overview

In the 1970s, the accidental discovery of plasticizers in blood stored in blood perfusion bags, then in the culture medium of petri dishes, led public, European and North American authorities to impose strict regulations on the use of additives and monomers [22] . The prevalence of plastic materials in contact with food (around 70%) today increases the need to control the nature and quantity of substances ingested by consumers from packaging. The diversification of materials (multi-layers, composites, active or intelligent packaging), treatments (aseptic treatments, chemical modifications, plasma deposits, etc.) and uses (e.g. recycled packaging) has also led to a diversification of contaminants. The risk of chemical contamination, including from packaging, is identified by 14% of consumers and is their second biggest health...