Migration of antimony from PET containers into regulated EU food simulants

• Antimony migration from PET bottles into food simulants and vinegars was studied.
• Food simulants for different types of food sold in PET containers were chosen.
• Test conditions for antimony migration were according to EU regulation 10/2011.
• Sb speciation in food simulants and vinegars was done by HPLC–ICP-MS and HG-AFS.

Antimony migration from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers into aqueous (distilled water, 3% acetic acid, 10% and 20% ethanol) and fatty food simulants (vegetable oil), as well as into vinegar, was studied. Test conditions were according to the recent European Regulation 10/2011 (EU, 2011). Sb migration was assayed by ICP-MS and HG-AFS. The results showed that Sb migration values ranged from 0.5 to 1.2 μg Sb/l, which are far below the maximum permissible migration value for Sb, 40 μg Sb/kg, (EU, Regulation 10/2011). Parameters as temperature and bottle re-use influence were studied. To assess toxicity, antimony speciation was performed by HPLC-ICP-MS and HG-AFS. While Sb(V) was the only species detected in aqueous simulants, an additional species (Sb–acetate complex) was measured in wine vinegar. Unlike most of the studies reported in the literature, migration tests were based on the application of the EU directive, which enables comparison and harmonisation of results.