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migration

mahy-GREY-shuhn /maɪˈɡreɪʃən/

nounB2TOEFLIELTS

ScientificTechnicalGeneral

The movement of chemical substances from packaging materials into the food they contain.

Refers to the molecular transfer of plasticizers, inks, adhesives, or metals, which is heavily regulated to prevent food contamination and off-flavors.

The story behind the word. While we usually associate migration with birds flying south or human populations moving across borders, packaging scientists adopted the term in the mid-20th century to describe the subtle, unwanted journey that synthetic molecules make from plastic wraps and cardboard glues into our food.

Word relationships

leaching: Leaching usually implies a liquid dissolving and washing away chemicals from a solid, whereas migration can occur through direct contact, gas phase transfer, or condensation without liquid flow.
permeation: Permeation is the movement of a substance through a barrier, while migration is the specific transfer of substances from the barrier into the food.

Commonly confused with

contamination: Contamination is a broad term for any unwanted substance in food, while migration is the specific chemical transfer originating from the packaging itself.

Word family

migrate (verb): To move from one place to another.
migratory (adjective): Capable of or characterized by migration.

Collocations

chemical migration
packaging migration
migration limits
global migration

Example sentences

"We must measure the migration of plasticizers from the film into the fatty food, as lipid-rich environments often accelerate this chemical transfer." Food chemistry journal

Memory hook

Think of chemicals packing their bags and 'migrating' from the plastic wrap into your cheese. Chemical migration is the packaging's unwanted donation.

When not to use

Do not confuse with the seasonal movement of animals or birds, though they share the same root.

Fun facts

Recycled cardboard can sometimes contain mineral oils from newspaper inks, which can undergo gas-phase migration and end up in dry foods like pasta or cereal if a barrier film is not used.