What are the restrictions with UV inks on food packaging?
Ultra-Violet (UV) curable screen inks have different properties than water and solvent-based inks. Because 100 percent polymerization or cure cannot be achieved or guaranteed in the UV process, there is the possibility that untreated residual monomers, oligomers and photo initiators remain in and on the surface of the printed ink film and may migrate to the food product. Currently neither UV inks nor UV raw materials are approved for direct or indirect food contact and are not recommended for use on food packaging even when separated by a functional barrier. Recently the FDA has delivered a ban on the use of lead and cadmium based decorations on the top 20mm of glass drinkware distributed in the US. The ban is intended to protect children.
