Is it safe to use small rolls of thermal label paper on food packaging?

The safety of using small roll thermal label paper on food packaging is a complex issue that involves multiple considerations. The following is a detailed analysis of this issue:

1、 Composition and safety of thermal paper

Main components:

Thermal paper is used to display text or patterns through chemical reactions, and its main component is thermal sensitive coating, which is usually composed of colorless dyes, color developing agents, and adhesives.

Under normal usage conditions, these ingredients are safe for the human body. Colorless dyes and colorants undergo chemical reactions when heated, resulting in color changes, while adhesives ensure that coatings can adhere to paper.

Potential risks:

Thermal paper may contain chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA), which may have adverse effects on the human body when exposed to high temperatures or prolonged periods of time. BPA has potential reproductive toxicity and may interfere with the human endocrine system, increasing the risk of disease.

However, it is worth noting that the BPA content entering the human body through food and thermal paper is very low, and current research is still difficult to determine its exact impact on human health.

2、 Safety of use on food packaging

Direct contact risk:

If thermal paper comes into direct contact with food, especially in high temperature or humid environments, the chemicals in it may migrate into the food, posing a potential threat to human health.

Therefore, when using thermal paper on food packaging, it should be avoided from direct contact with food or ensure that harmful substances are not released during the contact process.

Indirect contact risk:

During the food packaging process, thermal paper may be used as a label or information carrier and does not come into direct contact with the food. In this case, its safety mainly depends on the material of the label paper and the quality of the printing ink.

If the label paper or printing ink contains substances harmful to the human body, they may enter the food through the migration effect of food packaging materials, so it should be ensured that these materials comply with food safety standards.

3、 Safety measures and suggestions

Select qualified products:

When choosing thermal paper, priority should be given to products that meet food safety standards and avoid using products containing harmful chemicals.

Avoid direct contact:

During the food packaging process, direct contact between thermal paper and food should be avoided as much as possible. If contact is necessary, it should be ensured that no harmful substances are released during the contact process.

Strengthen supervision and testing:

Relevant departments should strengthen the supervision and testing of food packaging materials to ensure that products on the market meet food safety standards.

At the same time, enterprises should establish a sound self inspection system to ensure that the packaging materials such as thermal paper used meet relevant requirements.

In summary, the safety of using small roll thermal label paper on food packaging depends on multiple factors, including the composition of the thermal paper, usage methods, and regulatory and testing efforts. To ensure the safety of food packaging, qualified thermal paper products should be prioritized and their direct contact with food should be avoided. At the same time, relevant departments and enterprises should strengthen supervision and testing efforts to ensure that food packaging materials on the market meet food safety standards.