With the development of the food packaging industry, disposable aluminum foil trays are increasingly used in the catering and food processing fields. However, the phenomenon of material migration during high-temperature cooking or microwave heating has aroused people's concern about food safety.
First, aluminum foil trays may migrate in high-temperature environments. When the temperature rises, the stability of the crystal structure of aluminum foil is affected, and the activity of aluminum atoms increases. For example, when food is baked at high temperature in a traditional oven, the aluminum foil tray that has been at high temperature for a long time may gradually penetrate into the food in contact with it. The amount of this migration depends on factors such as heating temperature, time, and the pH value of the food. Acidic foods tend to accelerate the migration of aluminum because acids can react chemically with aluminum, making it easier for aluminum atoms to detach from the surface of the aluminum foil tray.
Secondly, for microwave heating, although aluminum foil itself cannot be used directly in a microwave oven, some composite aluminum foil trays may contain other materials that can be heated in microwaves. In this case, the interface between aluminum foil and other materials may undergo microstructural changes under the action of the microwave field, resulting in the migration of some additives or trace metal elements. For example, some plastic additives used to enhance the performance of trays may migrate from the plastic layer to the surface of food during microwave heating. Although the amount of migration is usually small, long-term accumulation may also have potential effects on human health.
Furthermore, the detection method of material migration is crucial. Currently, atomic absorption spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry are commonly used. These methods can accurately determine the content of aluminum and other possible migrating substances in food, providing data support for studying the law of material migration. By setting different variables such as heating time, temperature and food type, these detection methods can be used to draw the relationship curve between the amount of material migration and various factors, so as to gain a deep understanding of the migration mechanism.
In practical applications, food manufacturers and consumers need to understand the risks of these material migrations. Food companies should reasonably select disposable aluminum foil trays according to the heating methods and requirements of the products, and clearly mark the instructions and precautions on the packaging. Consumers should follow these instructions to avoid the risk of material migration caused by improper use.
In addition, industry standards and regulations also have corresponding provisions for the migration of disposable aluminum foil trays during high-temperature cooking or microwave heating. Relevant departments continue to improve detection standards and limit requirements to protect public health. For example, the maximum allowable intake of aluminum in food is stipulated, which forces companies to improve production processes and material formulations to reduce the amount of material migration.
Finally, researchers are still exploring ways to reduce the migration of materials in disposable aluminum foil trays. For example, a new coating technology is developed to form a barrier layer on the surface of aluminum foil, which can not only maintain the excellent performance of aluminum foil, but also effectively prevent material migration. This will help further improve the safety and reliability of disposable aluminum foil trays in high-temperature cooking and microwave heating applications.
