Ensuring Food Packaging Safety for the World's Toughest Row

BAAR, Switzerland - April 1, 2026 - PRLog -- SGS, the world's leading testing, inspection and certification company, has published an article spotlighting how safe, resilient food packaging supported the 44west team during the World's Toughest Row - Atlantic, and how this work reflects SGS's broader expertise in helping manufacturers meet food contact material compliance requirements worldwide.

The crucial role of food packaging
The article in SGS's Consumer Compact examines the role of food packaging in the team's 31-day row. Supported by rigorous SGS testing, the quality of this essential barrier was preserved, preventing contamination and maintaining safety until consumed at sea. With replacements impossible, unsafe food packaging would have posed significant risks. Especially under extreme conditions of high humidity, salt exposure, temperature fluctuations and constant movement.

Consumers are protected against harmful chemical migration by food contact material (FCM) regulations globally. These regulations vary nationally but share the core principle that only authorized substances may be used in FCM and strict migration limits must not be exceeded. 44west's food packaging was assessed against EU legislation, with materials evaluated against performance and safety expectations under extreme marine conditions in SGS's Singapore laboratory.

Partnering for the protection of the environment
SGS is committed to helping manufacturers design safer, more environmentally responsible food packaging, with a focus on recyclability and reuse. This commitment to creating meaningful, lasting impact is shared by 44west, who partnered with the eco‑organization rrreef to raise funds for the construction of a new reef designed to restore and protect coral ecosystems.

SGS solutions for the safety and compliance of FCM are backed up by extensive experience across global regulatory frameworks for manufacturers in Europe, the US, Canada, Mercosur and Asia-Pacific. Services include:
- Overall and specific migration tests
- Analytical screening for regulated and emerging substances
- Documentation review and compliance strategy
- Technical guidance on evolving legislation

The partnership with 44west provided not only competitive success but also reinforced SGS's core values and commitment to supporting businesses globally in improving food packaging safety and performance.

Read the full article, 'Validating Food Packaging Safety for the World's Toughest Row. (https://www.sgs.com/en/news/2026/03/cc-2026-q1-validating...)'

For further information contact:

Jade Wang
Technical Manager - Hardlines
Connectivity & Products
Tel: +86 21 61072942

About SGS
SGS is the world's leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of over 100,000 dedicated professionals. With more than 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.