Silicone Products for Food Contact Applications

Silicones, which can vary from low molecular weight oils and fluids, to rubbers and extensively cross-linked resins, are used in a variety of different food contact situations and conditions. The origin of this review report was a Food Standards Agency (FSA) project on food contact silicone based materials that was carried out at Rapra from 2003 until 2005. The objective of this project was to provide detailed information on the types and composition of silicone based products that are used in contact with food and to identify the extent to which the migration of specific constituents into food could occur. In addition to giving a summary of the findings of this extensive FSA project, this review report also provides an extensive overview of the principal types of silicone products that are used in food contact situations, from a description of their manufacture and chemical composition, to a detailed review of the potential migrants and their migration behaviour. It also covers the relevant national and EU food contact legislation and describes recent, food related, technological developments. This report is the final one of a trilogy that has addressed food contact materials. It joins a report summarising the current situation with respect to the use of rubber products for food applications (Review Report No. 182) and one reviewing the use of coatings and inks (Review Report No. 186). The review is accompanied by around 230 abstracts compiled from the Polymer Library, to facilitate further reading on this subject. A subject index and a company index are included. About the author Dr Martin Forrest started his career in 1977 with James Walkers & Co. Ltd, and during this time he progressed to the position of Rubber Technologist, having obtained his first degree in Polymer Technology at the London School of Polymer Technology (LSPT). In 1983 he started a full time Master of Science course in Polymer Science and Technology at the LSPT. After being awarded his MSc in 1984, he completed a PhD in Polymer Chemistry at Loughborough University in 1988. He then joined Rapra Technology as a Consultant in the Polymer Analysis section and remained in that section until 2006, rising to the position of Principal Consultant. During his time in the Polymer Analysis section, Dr Forrest was the main contact at Rapra for consultancy projects involving the analysis of rubber compounds and rubber based products. During his 20 years at Rapra he has also managed a number of FSA, TSB and EU funded research projects, and since 2006 he has been a Project Manager in the Research Projects Group.