BioChromato has announced that its ionRocket sample preparation device, used in combination with Direct Analysis in Real-Time Mass Spectrometry (DART®-MS), provides a powerful new method capable of identifying and discriminating between different sources of plastic films used for food processing and packaging.

Food wrap film, also known as cling film or plastic wrap, is widely used for food processing and packaging, leading to the risk that plastic might be introduced as a foreign matter into food items. While some food processing companies have switched to using low density polyethylene food wrap for environmental reasons, many still make food wrap from polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC). Since food wrap from a variety of sources is used at different stages during manufacturing of food items, the ability to discriminate between food wraps made by different manufacturers could help identify a source of contamination. While Fourier transform infrared is a frequent choice for rapid analysis of foreign matter, it was found in this case that it could not discriminate between PVDC films made by different manufacturers.