Naphthalene contamination of sterilized milk drinks contained in low-density polyethylene bottles. Part 1

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Abstract
Naphthalene contamination was observed in sterilized milk drinks contained in low-density polyethylene bottles. The determination of naphthalene in the packaging material by gas chromatography showed levels of naphthalene ranging from 0.7 to 2.0 µg g–1. Analysis of the milk samples at the time of purchase by gas chromatography after extraction using a Dean and Stark apparatus showed levels of naphthalene in the range 0.01–0.03 µg ml–1. The level of contamination in milk increased with storage time at room temperature (25 °C) and, depending on the concentration of naphthalene in the packaging material, values of 0.08–0.27 µg ml–1 were found at the expiry date. Migration studies were carried out using peanut oil as a food simulant. The amount of naphthalene extracted by milk from the polyethylene at 25 °C over a period of 60 d was related to the amount that could be extracted using peanut oil at 66 °C for 30 h. A mathematical model was established to describe the observed migration of naphthalene into milk, and proved valid for calculating the level of naphthalene in milk using the optimum determined values of K and Dp.

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