Total migration is a term that indicates the amount of all components that can pass from food contact materials (eg food packaging) to the food. This migration may vary depending on temperature, time and type of packaging material. The total migration value is determined in order to assess possible risks to the health of consumers.

**How to Perform Total Migration Test?**

1. **Sample Preparation:** The packaging material to be tested is sampled.

2. **Simulant Selection:** Substances called "simulant", which imitate the composition and properties of the food, are used instead of real food. For example, water, acetic acid or ethanol can be used as food simulants. The selected simulant is used to evaluate the migration potential of the material.

3. **Incubation:** The packaging sample is left in contact with the simulant at a specified temperature and time. This is done in order to simulate real conditions of use.

4. **Analysis:** After the incubation period, the migrant substances contained in the simulant are analyzed. This analysis is usually done by gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC) or spectroscopic methods (eg FTIR, UV-Vis).

5. **Evaluation of Results:** Analysis results are compared with the determined limits. These limits are usually determined by national or international regulations.

**Why Perform a Total Migration Test?**

1. **Protection of Consumer's Health:** Identifying harmful substances that can pass from packaging materials to foods is important to protect the health of consumers.
  
2. **Regulatory Compliance:** There are migration limits set in many countries for food packaging. Manufacturers must comply with these limits.

3. **Quality Control:** The total migration test is also used to evaluate the quality and suitability of the packaging material.

4. **Product Safety:** It is an important responsibility for food manufacturers to ensure that substances that are harmful to health do not pass into food.

Food packaging and other food contact materials must meet total migration limits. This is important to ensure the safety of consumers and fulfill the legal responsibilities of manufacturers.