Bostik Spotlight Q&A: How Our Food Packaging Technical Expertise Helps You  

Q: Can you start off by sharing with us a bit about what your role entails and your expertise?  

A: A big part of my role involves developing protocol for chemical migration testing in food. This helps our team design laminating adhesives and coatings for food packaging products that are safe and compliant with FDA guidance. I also co-chair the Food Safety Alliance for Packaging, which helps educate the supply chain about food packaging safety and regulation.   
  

Q: What is a common struggle that converters face when trying to address food safety regulations?  

A: Overall, there is a gap in knowledge around packaging materials and food safety. The FDA does not provide specific guidance on temperatures and conditions or what materials act as functional barriers. This means converters are left to determine what substrates and adhesives can be used safely when in contact with the food, which often leads to companies either making assumptions or inferences about safety and migration. This increases the risk of food adulteration. As a result, brand owners can be negatively impacted if their products experience any safety issues.  

Q: You mentioned Bostik has its own laminator and analytical equipment. Can you expand upon the value to converters?   

A: Our pilot laminator is a productions scale laminator that allows us to test product performance, such as bond strength and material compatibility, on film, paper and foil. We can also test for product performance and chemical resistance. This laminator enables real-world testing conditions to ensure it works for converters on their own production lines. We can run water-based, solvent-based and solvent-free adhesives and coatings.   
  
Specifically for migration testing in food packaging protocol development, we can study food simulants at sub parts-per-billion levels with our analytical equipment at our research center in Dublin, Ohio. We use this equipment to develop FDA letters for converters, which provides a full analysis of whether their food packaging met food regulations.   
  

Q: If converters want to speak to you directly, what knowledge can you provide to help their food packaging?  

A: I often serve as a food safety consultant to our customers. Typically, converters are looking for general feedback on how they can reduce chemical migration, or they are struggling to interpret detailed food regulations themselves. I provide that clarity and help them determine what testing methods will work best for their needs.   
  
It’s also important to note that I work with our customers throughout their entire production. I’m involved in those first initial discussions when they’re looking for help with testing. Other times, they may already have a food package out there that they want to expand uses, or they have problems that need to be addressed quickly. Overall, our partnerships last for years, as they know they have a trusted Bostik expert they can call when needed, especially when they need answers fast. When customers work with our technical service team, they will receive more than just an adhesive solution; they have reliable, trusted experts throughout the entire process.