Occurrence of phthalates in different food matrices: A systematic review of the main sources of contamination and potential risks

Abstract

This systematic review aimed to investigate the occurrence of phthalates (phthalic acid esters [PAEs]) in different food matrices, as well as report the main sources of PAEs in food, the potential risks to the population, and the factors that influence its migration from food contact materials (FCMs) to food. Nineteen PAEs were identified, including di‐(2‐ehtylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl‐phthalate (DBP), benzylbutyl phthalate (BBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) in fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy products, cereals, meat, fish, fat and oils, snacks, condiments and sauces, miscellaneous, and baby food. Fifty‐seven values of PAEs were above the legal limits of countries. DEHP is the PAE with the highest incidence, with maximum concentrations above the specific migration limit (SML) for milk and dairy products, oils and fats, fish, cereals, condiments and sauces, meat, and fruits and vegetables. The risk of exceeding the tolerable daily intake (TDI) was high for DEHP and DBP in fish, fat and oils, cereals, and milk and dairy products for children and adults. Fat and oils are the most critical food for DEHP, DBP, BBP, and DINP. Comparing the estimated daily intake (EDI) with the TDI, there was a risk for “milk and dairy products” in adults and for “cereal and cereal products” in children concerning DEHP. “Cereal and cereal products” presented a risk in children and adults concerning DBP. The “fat and oils” category presented a risk in children and adults about DBP and DINP. Temperature, contact time between food and the FCM, fat percent, and acidity positively correlate with the PAE's migration. The contamination occurs in many steps of the production chain.

Environmental Aspect Concerning Phthalates Contamination: Analytical Approaches and Assessment of Biomonitoring in the Aquatic Environment

“…The regulations on the restrictions on the use of phthalates are different between international legislations; moreover, they consider only phthalates with high rates of application, and thus, high risk of exposure, which are listed as toxic, for example, di-methyl phthalate (DMP), benzyl butylphthalate (BBzP), DEHP, DnBP, di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DiNP), di-isodecyl phthalate (DiDP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP). The restrictions mainly concern food contacts materials (FCM), cosmetics, toys, and childcare articles [2,[16][17][18].…”

Determination of phthalate esters contents in different types of cheese produced and consumed in Saudi Arabia

“…This is reflected in the cheese samples included in our study, as different phthalate esters were detected. In more detail, a systematic review by da Costa et al 22 concluded that dairy products were listed among foods with the highest content in DEHP and DBP. These authors also confirmed the legal limits of these phthalates were exceeded, representing a potential risk exposure for both adults and children 22 .…”

“…In more detail, a systematic review by da Costa et al 22 concluded that dairy products were listed among foods with the highest content in DEHP and DBP. These authors also confirmed the legal limits of these phthalates were exceeded, representing a potential risk exposure for both adults and children 22 . Similar results were obtained in our study where the average content of DEHP and DBP was highly detected.…”