An overview of non-targeted screening strategies based on high resolution accurate mass spectrometry for the identification of migrants coming from plastic food packaging materials

Identification and quantitative determination of analytes released from food contact materials (FCMs) is still an analytical challenge for scientists since neither chemical nor spectral databases nor analytical standards are available. Gas and liquid chromatography hyphenated to a variety of accurate mass analyzers based on the use of high-resolution have been used for this purpose. In this review, we present an overview of current approaches based on high resolution accurate mass spectrometry (HRAMS) analysis, particularly based on software tools for data acquisition and data processing used for the identification of unknown migrants coming from plastic FCMs. The main advantages and disadvantages of identification strategies have been put into evidence. A summary of the different intentionally and non-intentionally added substances identified or tentatively identified in plastic FCMs using HRAMS analysis has also been presented. Finally, we discuss the main current risk assessment strategies for food packaging migration studies found in the literature.