Food-Contact Labels: Everything About Low Migration and Regulations

June 15, 2025 · 8 blog.minutes

When a consumer picks your product off the shelf, they give you their trust. This trust is based not only on taste but also on the fact that the packaging — including the label — is safe for human health. So, what makes a label “safe”? The answer lies in the low migration approach and regulatory compliance that protects your brand’s reputation.

Illustration of a food package label marked with 'food grade' and low-migration symbols.

The Biggest Hidden Risk: What is “Migration”?

Migration is the unwanted chemical transfer from label components (ink, varnish, adhesive, etc.) into food. There are two scenarios:

  • Direct contact: For example, a label on a piece of fruit.
  • Indirect contact: The most common risk; ink particles seeping through packaging into food. This risk increases with fatty/acidic foods and long shelf life.

Solution: Low-Migration Materials

Low-migration inks/varnishes

Special formulations and proper curing (UV, etc.) complete the polymer network and minimize free monomers, significantly reducing molecules that could migrate into food.

Food-grade adhesives

Formulations that do not react with food and contain no harmful substances; they must be selected for both direct and indirect contact scenarios.

Legal Framework: Turkey and EU

Compliance is mandatory. In Turkey: Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Materials and Articles in Contact with Food, and in the EU: (EC) No 1935/2004. Supply chain actors are expected to document compliance with a Declaration of Compliance (DoC).

Food Safety Checklist for Brands

  1. Supplier verification: Is the use of low-migration inks/varnishes and food grade adhesives documented?
  2. Application profile: Is the product fatty/liquid/acidic/dry? This determines material choice.
  3. Packaging barrier: Thickness and structure of glass/carton/film affect label requirements.
  4. Cost ≠ risk: The small price difference for a food-grade label is insurance against recalls and reputational loss.

Conclusion: Trust is the Most Valuable Ingredient

Choosing a food-contact label is a critical link in your brand’s trust chain. At Kodmark, we protect brands and consumers with low-migration inks/varnishes, food-grade adhesives, and compliant production.

Looking for a 100% safe label solution? Get in touch with our experts.

Related reads: Food & Beverage Labels · Labels for Harsh Conditions · Sustainable Labels

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