A food packaging printer supplying restaurants encountered a critical issue with their basket liners. The conventional ink they used began to migrate when exposed to acidic condiments, causing color transfer to the food and raising safety concerns among customers. As a result, the basket liners were immediately discarded, and printing was suspended, creating a major business disruption. This led to halted sales for three months, inventory losses due to unusable materials, and reputational damage in the direct food contact sector. They had difficulty finding an ink that adhered properly onto their recycled paper substrate and their existing ink supplier failed to provide proactive support.

Colorcon’s Rapid Response

Recognizing the urgency, the customer reached out to Colorcon No-Tox® Products for a compliant and effective solution. Colorcon immediately took action:

• Expert Consultation: A meeting was set up to analyze the problem and discuss requirements.
• Regulatory-Compliant Formulation: Colorcon developed a custom direct food contact flexographic water-based ink specifically to withstand acidic condiments like mustard and hot sauce
• Rapid Prototyping: Ink samples were sent within a week for evaluation. The Colorcon Technical team was on-site for the trial to fine-tune the formula for optimal performance.  
  
  

The Solution: Safe & Compliant Food Packaging Inks

Colorcon delivered a tailored ink solution that met both performance and regulatory requirements:

• FDA & EU Compliance: The new ink was fully compliant with direct food contact regulations, ensuring consumer safety.
• Elimination of Migration Risks: The custom formula adhered securely to basket liners and offered resistance to prevent bleeding or leaching.
• No Overprint Necessary: Since the inks were safe for direct food contact, the customer was able to eliminate their overprint coating, saving them time and money.
• Competitive Pricing: A cost-effective solution that supported the customer’s long-term business growth.
  
  

The Outcome: A Trusted Partnership

Through Colorcon’s expertise and commitment to regulatory compliance, the customer successfully resumed their basket liner business. The company is now expanding its direct food contact applications with confidence, backed by Colorcon as its preferred supplier. This case underscores the importance of using FDA- and EU-compliant inks in food packaging and the value of partnering with a proactive, solutions-driven supplier.

About Colorcon No-Tox® Products

Colorcon No-Tox® Products is a global leader in the development and manufacturing of FDA- and EU-compliant printing inks for direct and indirect food contact applications. All inks and coatings are produced in a cGMP and ISO 9001:2015 registered facility, with a written regulatory compliance guarantee.