Migration and Food Safety Assessment in PVC Cling Films
Shree Pragya Flexifilm Industries has been synonymous with quality, safety and reliability. Our range of food packaging products, particularly PVC cling film, is widely used across various food packaging applications. From wrapping vegetables, fruits, baked goods, to confectionery, our cling films offer impeccable protection, freshness and performance. The performance of PVC cling films, in terms of flexibility, safety and migration, relies on plasticizers, especially at higher temperatures. At Shree Pragya Flexifillm Industries, we conducted a study to evaluate how the PVC cling film behaves under varying storage temperatures.
Why Migration Testing Matters
➤ Food stays safe for consumption
➤ Plasticizer levels stay under permissible limits
➤ Compliance with Indian and international packaging laws
The Objective of the Study Was:
➤ Measuring overall migration
➤ Film thickness of 10 to 12 microns
➤ Migration of plasticizer used in our films (non-phthalate & food-grade plasticizer)
Performance at Different Temperatures:
➤ 5 °c (refrigeration)
➤ 25 °c (room temperature)
➤ 40 °c (warm temperature)
➤ 70 °c (short-term hot contact)
Exposure Conditions
| Temperature | Duration | Purpose |
| 5 °C | 10 Days | Home refrigerator storage |
| 25 °C | 10 & 30 Days | Kitchen shelf, retail display, home counter |
| 40 °C | 10 Days | Warm climate |
| 70 °C | 2 Hours | Hot food |
Results & Interpretation
Performance at 5 °C in Home Refrigeration
Overall Migration: 3 to 5 mg/kg
Plasticizer Migration: 0.05 to 0.1 mg/kg
Interpretation
➤ Highly suitable for fruits, vegetables, cheese, paneer and retail cool-room use.
➤ Very low migration due to low reduced molecular movement
➤ The film stays non-sticky, strong, clear and odour-free
Performance at 25 °C at Room Temperature
10-days Exposure
➤ Overall Migration: 6 to 10 mg/kg
➤ Plasticizer Migration: 0.2 to 0.3 mg/kg
30-days Exposure
➤ Overall Migration: 12 to 15 mg/kg
➤ Plasticizer Migration: 0.5 mg/kg
Interpretation
➤ Ideal for daily home use and retail shelf use
➤ Suitable for wrapping sandwiches, bakery items, cut fresh foods & chapatis.
Film Behaviour
The film stayed transparent with consistent cling performance even after 30 days.
Performance at 40 °C in Warm Temperature
This implies hot temperatures, warehouses, food service kitchens and non-ac storage.
Results
➤ Overall Migration: 18 to 22 mg/kg
➤ Plasticizer Migration: 0.9 to 1.2 mg/kg
Interpretation
It is completely safe for the Indian climate, where the temperatures rise up to 44 °C. The film maintains its flexibility and clinginess without oil leaching.
Performance at 70 °C at Short-term Hot Contact
This implies direct contact with hot food, such as wrapping hot chapatis straight from the tawa or covering hot food.
Results
- Overall Migration: 34 to 45 mg/kg
- Plasticizer Migration: 2.0 to 3.5 mg/kg
Interpretation
Migration can rise sharply at higher temperatures. This implies, it is best not to use cling film in direct contact with boiling food, acidic food or steaming hot food.
Temperature Performance of PVC Cling Films
| Temperature | Migration Levels | Safety Evaluation | Recommended Use |
| 5 °C | Very low | Excellent | Suitable for refrigerator food |
| 25 °C | Low | Excellent | Daily household & retail uses |
| 40 °C | Mild but safe | Very good | Suitable for warm storage |
| 70 °C | High | Use with caution | Avoid direct contact with hot food |
Findings
Our PVC cling film demonstrates excellent migration safety at 5 °C, 25°C and 40 °C. It is completely safe for households, supermarkets, catering services, cloud kitchens and food packaging units. At 70 °C, the migration increases, so it is best to avoid direct contact with hot food.
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