Determination of toluene and other residual solvents in various food packaging materials by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS)

Levels of toluene and other residual solvents were evaluated in food packaging materials as a preventive action against hazard occurrence in foods via migration and to confirm food safety. Automated headspace sampling and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS) were used to determine residual solvent levels in the food packaging materials. Correlation coefficients as calibration factors were over 0.999 and relative standard deviations (RSD) of repeatability were below 3.6%. Limits of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.001 to 0.01 mg/m2. The levels of 7 residual solvents including toluene for potential migration from food packaging materials to food samples were below Korean regulatory limits.