Should product be loaded if a polystyrene box smells?

An unexplained odour is a risk of transfer to the food's sensory properties. The box is set aside and its last load and storage are recorded.

4 April 2026Updated 28 September 2026

Short answer

No. A material in contact with food must not impair the food's sensory properties, and an unexplained odour is a warning against that standard. Set the box aside and record its last load, cleaning and storage; if the smell remains after the approved cleaning, the box does not return to a food flow.

A box that smells is not loaded with product, because odour points to a risk of impaired sensory properties: Article 5 of the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Contact Materials (2018) limits any transfer from a contact material that would impair the food's sensory properties. Loading product does not remove the source, it only makes it harder to trace.

Move the box away from sound stock and keep its identity; deodorising spray, fragrance or heavy detergent can create a new contact risk, so do not use them to meet a dispatch.
Write down the last load, the return time, whether it stayed wet, the neighbouring material in store and any stains; check the other boxes on the same rack.
If the smell remains after the operation's approved cleaning method, the box does not return to a food flow.