[PHNUTR-L] Food regulator re-evaluates phthalate packaging

[Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD]

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Breaking News on Food & Beverage Development - Europe

http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?n=62638&m=1fne920&c=xeiqgoegavfxtla

Food regulator re-evaluates phthalate packaging

20/09/2005- In a re-evaluation of five phthalate chemical compounds used 
in plastic packaging, the EU's food safety regulator has either raised, 
lowered or maintained acceptable daily intake limits.

The changes could eventually allow more or less use of the individual 
phthalate compounds in plastic packaging, depending on whether the 
recommendations are approved by the EU's parliament.

Phthalates have become a health hot spot. Recent animal studies on its 
toxicity have raised questions about possible human health effects and 
sparked calls for further studies on the chemicals.

Phthalates are a class of compounds used most commonly as a softener for 
products made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In the food industry 
phthalate compounds  are most commonly used for plastic packaging 
materials. The most commonly used phthalate is DEHP.

Food contamination occurs because of the use of PCV in wrapping 
materials. Phthalates have been found in meat, fish, milk products, and 
other foods with a high fat content.

The European parliament in July banned six phthalate softeners in PVC 
toys and childcare articles that can be placed in children's mouths.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) re-evaluated 
Butylbenzylphthalate (BBP), di-Butylphthalate (DBP), 
Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), Di-isodecylphthalate (DIDP) and 
Di-isononylphthalate (DINP).

During the 1990s, the EU evaluated a number of phthalates that were 
being used, or were requested for use, as additives in plastics. These 
included a few
extensively investigated substances, BBP, DBP, DEHP, DINP and DIDP, as 
well as a large number of phthalates for which there was little or no 
toxicity information.

In 1994, faced with these uncertainties, the EU decided to set a 
tolerable daily intake (TDI) for many phthalic esters, based on a study 
for peroxisome
proliferation in rat liver.

Now the EFSA says scientists generally agree that the studies should not 
be used for human risk assessment as rodents are highly are highly 
sensitive to peroxisome.

DBP, DEHP and BBP affect the testis and reproduction. DINP and DIDP have 
an affect on the liver. Due to the different effects the panel was not 
able a give an overall group TDI for the chemicals.

In the case of BBP, EFSA's scientific panel recommends that the EU 
raises the TDI limits to  of 0.5 mg/kg of body weight (bw), from 0.1 
mg/kg bw.

The panel noted that the dietary exposure to BBP derived from packaging 
and other sources may contribute up to about one per cent of the TDI value.

In the case of DBP the panel recommends lowering the minimum TDI to 0.01 
mg/kg bw from 0.05 mg/kg bw. The panel notes that exposure to DBP from 
food consumption is in the range of the TDI.

For DEHP the panel recommends keeping the TDI at 0.05 mg/kg bw. The 
panel recommends that the TDI for DIDP should also be maintained at 0.15 
mg/kg bw.

The TDIs for DIDP and DINP were also maintained at 0.15 mg/kg bw.

The European parliament in July banned six phthalate softeners in PVC 
toys and childcare articles that can be placed in children's mouths. The 
restrictions are expected to come into force sometime next year.

The ban will apply to DINP - by far the most commonly-used phthalate in 
PVC toys - plus DIDP and DNOP. DEHP, DBP and BBP will be banned outright 
in all toys, regardless of whether they can be put in children's mouths.

Consumer concerns about food safety and a number of costly recalls have 
led to tougher regulatory action and increased survelliance of 
processing plants. A survey by Globescan last year of France, the UK, 
Germany and Italy found that 36 per cent of consumers believed food 
safety is worse today than 20 years ago. Another 22 per cent believed it 
no better.

External links to companies or organisations mentioned in this story:
     * European Food Safety Authority
-- 
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar at nutritionucanlivewith.com >
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