Abstract: The migration of fluorescent whitening agents from polyethylene (PE) food packaging films into water, acetic acid, ethanol, and vegetable oil was investigated using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The dissolution of fluorescent whitening agents was studied as a function of food contact medium, acetic acid concentration, ethanol concentration, soaking temperature and time. The results showed that coumarin-containing fluorescent whitening agent could be dissolved by the aqueous food simulant, and the effect was weaker than that of the acidic food stimulant. The alcoholic and fatty food simulants could better dissolve most fluorescent whitening agents in a concentration-dependent manner. The migration of fluorescent whitening agents in plastic packaging materials was significantly promoted at higher temperature. Moreover, the possibility of migration of fluorescent whitening agents from plastic packaging materials into the foods increased with contact time.

Key words: fluorescent whitening agent, polyethylene (PE) plastics, food packaging materials, food simulants, migration