Inks and coatings in food packaging:
what food grade means.

Why the ink matters

In food packaging, print is not only a matter of appearance. Inks and coatings contain substances which, under certain conditions, can transfer to the food. This is known as migration, and it is the reason printed food packaging is produced with dedicated materials under a controlled process.

How migration occurs

• Through the substrate. Substances from the printed side pass through the paper or board towards the food side.
• By set-off. In the stack or reel, the printed side rests against the reverse of the next sheet and can leave traces on it.
• Through the air. Volatile substances transfer inside the closed pack.

What the European framework requires

Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 provides that materials intended to come into contact with food must not transfer their constituents to it in quantities that could endanger health or alter its composition, taste or odour. Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006 on good manufacturing practice contains specific provisions on printing inks: printing is organised so that substances are not transferred to the food-contact side, and the printed surface does not come into direct contact with the food.

What food grade means in practice

The term food grade refers to low-migration inks and coatings, formulated so that, when correctly used, transfer of substances remains below the permitted limits. The ink, however, is only one part. The result depends on the whole: the paper or board, the coating, the pressroom consumables and the production conditions. Suitability for food is a property of the entire process, not of any single material.

Documentation

Compliance is demonstrated through documentation. The client should be able to know which materials and which batches went into their production, and to receive the corresponding declaration of compliance. This requirement is reinforced by the newer European framework on packaging, covered in our article on the PPWR regulation.

Our approach

At Terzidis Print we use food-grade inks and coatings exclusively, with European raw materials. Every run carries full batch traceability for paper and inks and is accompanied by a certificate of conformity. More on our food packaging page.

This text is for information only and does not constitute legal advice.