TY - CONF A1 - Portesi, Chiara T1 - Metrology for food safety in the circular economy: targeted and screening methods for contaminants in food and recycled packaging N2 - Safeguarding consumers from potential harm caused by food contamination is of paramount importance to ensure food safety. The focus on safety is a central priority for European Commision lawmakers. Furthermore, as outlined in the EU circular economy action plan, the development of a sustainable food system is a critical objective. However, progress towards these goals can sometimes face obstacles, including the risk of eroding consumer confidence in food quality. Factors such as the increased use of recycled and sustainable packaging materials and the growing awareness of emerging contaminants necessitate immediate attention. To ensure a high level of food safety throughout production and distribution, it is crucial to improve and harmonise analytical techniques for contaminant quantification. This constitutes the basis for reliable data and compliance with regulations and for resolving disputes and minimising financial losses within the food industry. The ScreenFood project (June 2024 -May 2027) is funded by the European Metrology Partnership and aims to develop reference methods and reference materials for quantifying contaminants in both food and food packaging, with a specific emphasis on recycled materials. These metrological tools will aid industries and official food control in guaranteeing the delivery of safe food and sustainable packaging while adhering to regulatory requirements. Specific objectives of the project are i. To improve protocols for the quantification of the mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) fraction and for the quantification of the fraction consisting of substances with three or more aromatic ring systems (3+MOAH); ii. To develop sensitive analytical procedures for detecting and quantifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in selected matrices, in line with EU requirements; iii. To develop traceable and highly accurate reference materials for quality control and quality assurance purposes; iv. to develop screening methods addressing new/existing organic and inorganic contaminants, in virgin and recycled packaging, such as PET, and bio-based and reusable materials; v. To investigate the migration of contaminants from packaging into food simulants, as well as to foster the research in the discovery of Emerging and Novel PFAS through non-targeted screening. The consortium brings together 28 partners from EU metrological institutes, research centres, control laboratories, EU reference laboratories and industries. A large panel of collaborators and stakeholders is supporting the consortium in keeping the project aligned with EU and industrial priorities.  T2 - 11th International Symposium on RECENT ADVANCES IN FOOD ANALYSIS (RAFA) CY - Prague, Czech Republic DA - 05.11.2024 KW - Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) KW - MOSH/MOAH KW - EU Project KW - Food KW - Food Contact Material (FCM) KW - ScreenFood PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-62185 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -