Scientifically addressing the main challenges in the safety and quality of food contact materials
Task Force Information
Objectives
For more than 30 years, the Task Force has strived to understand the challenges to ensure safe food contact materials for food consumption by:
- Evaluating food contact materials safety and their interactions with food to ensure consumers’ safety at minimal environmental impact.
- Addressing recent improvements in food production and distribution, leading to an increased sophistication of food packaging.
Task Force Members
| Charlène Lacourt - Chair | Danone Nutricia Research | FR |
| Christina Nerin - Vice Chair | University of Zaragoza | ES |
| Sami Hamdi | Mondelēz International | UK |
| Sigrid Gerold | MM Board & Paper | AT |
| Bastian Knaup | Tetra Pak | DE |
| Thomas Gude | ETH Zurich | CH |
| Tina Richter | Swiss Quality testing Services | CH |
| Sarah Dubail | Sherwin Williams | UK |
| Biljana Dimcic | AbInBev | BE |
| Ramiro Valassina | Dow Europe | DE |
| Christian Kirchnawy | OFI (Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology) | AT |
| Si Wang | PepsiCo International | UK |
| Luca La Gamba | Soremartec | IT |
| Marinella Vitulli | Food Contact Center | IT |
* Scientific Advisors
Contact Information
For more detailed information, please contact Konrad Korzeniowski at kkorzeniowski@ilsieurope.be
Activity Overview
Ongoing
- Technical Guideline on the Demonstration of Functional Barrier Properties of Specific Layers Toward Targeted Chemical Contamination
Growing concerns over chemical migration from packaging, especially recycled materials, highlight the role of functional barrier layers in reducing contamination. Technical guidance on evaluating barrier properties against chemical contaminants, including NIAS, is needed.
Start date: April 2026 - End date: April 2028
In the pipeline
- International Symposium on Food Packaging
The flagship event of the Packaging Materials Task Force. The next edition is planned for Spring 2028.
- Recyclability of plastic packaging
An activity developed on the outcomes of the workshop of Oct 2025.
Expert Groups
Technical Guideline on the Demonstration of Functional Barrier Properties of Specific Layers Toward Targeted Chemical Contamination
Background and Objectives
With growing concerns about contamination of food products from various sources, there is an increasing concern about migration of chemicals contaminant from new packaging materials and to a greater extent from recycled packaging. One way to reduce migration is, therefore, to use a functional barrier layer or layers. A technical guidance on how to evaluate barrier proprieties toward chemical contaminants including NIAS is needed.
Output
Deliverables include a peer-review publication and a Black and White Report
| Cristina Nerin - Chair | University of Zaragoza | ES |
| Sami Hamdi - Vice-Chair | Mondelēz International | UK |
| Maxence Oboeuf | Danone Nutricia Research | FR |
| Bastian Knaup | Tetra Pak | DE |
| Thomas Gude | ETH Zürich | CH |
| Lorena Pla Munoz | AIMPLAS · Technological Institute of Plastics | ES |
| Frank Welle | Fraunhofer IVV | DE |
| Christian Kirchnawy | OFI (Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology) | AT |
| Phuong-Mai Nguyen | National Laboratory of Metrology and Testing | FR |
International Symposium on Food Packaging
About the event
ILSI Europe International Symposium on Food Packaging is held every four years. It is internationally recognised as a scientific forum to discuss and move forward the science that supports safety and innovation in the field, with minimal environmental impact. This conference of experts facilitates transfer of knowledge and brings innovative solutions to the most pressing issues in this field.
Previous editions
Curious about the journey so far? Explore the highlights, programmes, and key takeaways from our previous editions below.
Publications
A to Z
Packaging Materials 1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) for Food Packaging Applications. Updated version
ILSI Europe Report Series, 2017
Packaging Materials 10: Adhesives for Food Packaging Applications
ILSI Europe Report Series, 2018
Commissioned by the Packaging Materials Task Force.
Packaging Materials 2: Polystyrene for Food Packaging Applications
2002
ILSI Europe Report Series.
Packaging Materials 2: Polystyrene for Food Packaging Applications. Updated version.
ILSI Europe Report Series, 2017
Commissioned by the Packaging Materials Task Force.
Packaging Materials 3: Polypropylene as a Packaging for Food and Beverages
2002
ILSI Europe Report Series.
