What is BS EN 12498 – Toxic metals in food packaging paper about?
BS EN 12498 is one in a series of standards for the determination of heavy metals in an aqueous extract of paper or board intended for contact with food. BS EN 12498 specifies the test method for the determination of cadmium, lead and chromium in an aqueous extract.
BS EN 12498 is applicable to paper and paperboard with extractable metal contents exceeding
- 0,1 mg per kg for cadmium
- 0,6 mg per kg for lead
- 0,25 mg per kg for chromium
Metal content levels below those given can be measured by BS EN 12498 if very sensitive equipment is available and if all other laboratory conditions fulfil the requirements for trace element analysis.
Who is BS EN 12498 - Toxic metals in food packaging paper for?
BS EN 12498 on determining cadmium, chromium and lead contents in paper and boards intended to come in contact with foodstuffs is useful for:
- Packaged food industry
- Packaging companies
- Food inspection authorities
Why should you use BS EN 12498 - Toxic metals in food packaging paper?
Paper and board packaging intended for foodstuffs contain some amount of harmful metals like cadmium, chromium and nickel. If these metals exceed a certain limit and are transferred into the food product, they can be harmful to the end consumer.
BS EN 12498 helps you perform the atomic absorption spectrometry method by giving you a detailed account of its requirements and procedures. The atomic absorption spectrometry method enables you to identify cadmium, chromium, and lead content in your food packaging papers.
In conclusion, the test method described in BS EN 12498 helps you to determine the toxic metal content in your food packaging paper and thereby enables you to regulate it.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 12498:2018 supersedes EN 12498:2005. With regards to EN 12498:2005 the following changes have been made in BS EN 12498:2018:
- Chromium has been added to the scope
- The reagents have been modified
- Editorial updating