Assessing the conformity of single-use food plastic packaging products to the applicable standards: A seven-year study of tests conducted at the Ghana Standards Authority

Abstract

Abstract Widely used single-use food plastic packaging products in Ghana present health and safety risks to consumers. The study analyses seven years of data from the Ghana Standards Authority Polymer laboratory to identify food plastic packaging product types used in Ghana and non-conformities with GS 173:2018 and GS 1186:2018. Employing a retrospective design, as well as descriptive, correlational, regression, ANOVA, and risk assessment analyses, the research evaluates the safety and quality of single-use food plastic packaging products tested from 2016 to 2022. According to the data, recycled PE Carrier Bags accounted for 50.2%, while HDPE and LDPE plastics comprised 37.1% and 12.7%, respectively. The regression analysis emphasized the importance of controlling thickness in plastic manufacturing to ensure desired Elongation at Break and Tensile Strength properties. The overall migration of non-volatile residues from the single-use HDPE, LDPE, and recycled PE Carrier bag products using Acetic Acid and Ethanol showed no statistically significant difference. The study concludes that plastic packaging for food in Ghana is safe, as non-volatile residue migration well below the 5mg/l maximum specification. The GSA and other relevant stakeholders need to remain vigilant and undertake continuous monitoring and surveillance to ensure overall product safety and compliance to standards.