Since the ban on single-use plastic articles in Europe, the food contact material
(FCM) industry has been forced to move to more sustainable alternatives. Paper
and board FCM are convenient alternatives but must be safe for consumers. This
study aims to investigate potential migrations of various substances (e.g.,
plasticizers, photoinitiators, primary aromatic amines, mineral oil, and
bisphenols) from straws and takeaway articles made of paper and board.
Twenty straws and fifty-eight takeaway articles were carefully selected and
investigated using liquid and gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass
spectrometry or flame ionization detector. Fourteen substances of all the targeted
categories were found in takeaway articles, including seven plasticizers, two
photoinitiators, one primary aromatic amine, two bisphenols, and the saturated
and aromatic fraction of mineral oil (MOSH and MOAH, respectively). In straws,
fewer substances were detected, i.e., six substances, including three plasticizers,
one photoinitiator, MOSH, and MOAH. At least one of the target substances was
detected in 88% of the samples, demonstrating the importance of further
evaluation of these materials. Finally, the associated risks were assessed,
highlighting the potential risks for several types of articles regarding bisphenol
A, one primary aromatic amine (3.3-DMB), and MOSH and MOAH.