Migrants found in migration solutions obtained from commercially available polyethylene products that may contain food were studied and analysed via liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF) for non-target screening and LC-MS/MS for quantifying 14 substances in migration solutions. Furthermore, an analytical approach based on the retention gap was developed for accurate separation techniques using LC-MS/MS. Irganox 1076 was detected at a maximum of 1.5 mg/kg, which was 1/4 of the Specific Migration Limit in the EU, in nine commercially available plastic bags tested. This is in accordance with European Regulation No 10/2011/EU. Furthermore, migration of Erucamide and Irgafos 168-oxide was confirmed.
Keywords: LC-MS/MS; LC-QTOF; food utensils, containers and packaging; migration test; plastic; polyethylene; retention gap method.