Migration of Styrene in Relation to Food-Packaging Materials

Polystyrene is frequently used for food packaging because of its eaxy processing rigidity , and low cost. Styrene, which is present in detectable amouts in the polymer, is usually considered to be the substance responsible for the possible tainting of a polystyrene-packed food by migration. The contamination of foods and beverages by trace amounts of materials which have migrated from plastics use din packaging is a concern both on the grounds of adversely affecting product quality and of food safety. These lead to increasing attention to the potentional hazards of a large variety of plastic materials and foods. In this paper we reviewed the history of Styrene and various analytical methods of sample preparation and detection to assess the extent to which styrene is present in food-grade polystrene materials and to what extent it leaked into foods and food stimulants.