MIGRATION FROM PVC CLING FILMS COMPARED WITH THEIR FIELD OF APPLICATION

Samples of PVC cling films were taken at importers, wholesalers and re tail shops, and their overall migration to the alternative food simula nt iso-octane was measured, after establishment of a correlation betwe en overall migration to olive oil at 40 degrees C in 10 days and to is o-octane in 2 h. Results of the migration testing were compared with t he recommended and/or actual use of the PVC film and the labelling dis cussed in relation to the relevant EEC directives on food contact plas tics. The correct labelling of plasticized PVC film intended for use i n retail packaging is important to avoid the risk of significant consu mer intakes of the plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) after the film has been used in contact with fatty foodstuffs. Sixty percent of the films declared for use in contact with fatty foods showed too high overall migration compared with the current interpretation of leg islation at the time of sampling. In most instances DEHA made up about 80% of the total amount of plastic constituents migrating to iso-octa ne. Taking into consideration a specific migration limit of 3 mg DEHA/ dm(2), 77% of the films used for fatty foodstuffs analysed were not ac ceptable. The migration of DEHA to non-fatty foods defined as the food simulant water was at or below 0.1 mg/dm(2) in all PVC-films.