Endocrine modulating chemicals in food packaging: A review of phthalates and bisphenols

Abstract

Phthalates and bisphenol chemicals have been widely used globally in packaging materials and consumer products for several decades. These highly functional chemicals have become a concern due to their toxicity (i.e., endocrine/hormone modulators) and ability to migrate from food contact materials (FCMs) into food matrices and the environment resulting in human and environmental health risks. FCMs, composed of postconsumer materials, are particularly high risk for containing these compounds. The evaluation of postconsumer recycled feedstocks in FCMs is compulsory and selection of an appropriate detection method to comply with applicable regulations is necessary to evaluate human and environmental safety. Numerous regulations have been proposed and passed globally for both compound classes that are recognized as priority pollutants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the European Union. Several brand owners and retailers have also released their own “restricted substance lists” due to the mounting consumer and regulatory concerns. This review article has two goals: (1) discuss the utilization, toxicology, human exposure routes, and occurrence levels of phthalates and bisphenols in FCMs and associated legislation in various countries and (2) discuss critical understanding and updates for detection/quantification techniques. Current techniques discussed include extraction and sample preparation methods (solid‐phase microextraction [SPME], headspace SPME, Soxhlet procedure, ultrasound‐assisted extraction), chromatographic techniques (gas, liquid, detectors), and environmental/blank considerations for quantification. This review complements a previous review of phthalates in foods from 2009 by discussing phthalate and bisphenol characteristics, analytical methods of determining concentrations in packaging materials, and their influence on the migration potential into food.

Designing healthier and more sustainable ultraprocessed foods

“…Alternatively, some of the additives in plastics, such as phthalates and bisphenols (like BPA), can migrate into foods and adulterate them (Sadrabad et al., 2023). The presence of these packaging chemicals in foods may have adverse health effects, especially if they are consumed at relatively high levels over long periods (Hirt & Body‐Malapel, 2020; Tumu et al., 2023). The production and disposal of packaging materials can also lead to environmental pollution (Kadac‐Czapska et al., 2023).…”

Recent Advances in the Chromatographic Analysis of Emerging Pollutants in Dairy Milk: A Review (2018–2023)

“…Food packaging serves a crucial function in the food sector; it extends shelf life and protects food contents from biological and chemical alterations post-processing [ 56 ]. Packaging materials comprise various components, including polymers, plasticizer additives, and endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) [ 142 ]. EDCs are exogenous substances that can interfere with the endocrine system, either by inhibiting the primary hormone functions or mimicking their actions [ 1 , 143 ].…”

“…Another route for EDCs to enter the food chain is via contaminated animal feed [ 144 ]. Toxic EDCs, such as phthalates and bisphenols, have the potential to bioaccumalate, posing threats to human health [ 142 ]. They are associated with various physiological disruptions and are linked to diseases like diabetes, obesity, reproductive disorders, cardiovascular disease, congenital disabilities, and breast cancer [ 143 ].…”

“…They are associated with various physiological disruptions and are linked to diseases like diabetes, obesity, reproductive disorders, cardiovascular disease, congenital disabilities, and breast cancer [ 143 ]. Both phthalates and bisphenols can enter the human body through dermal absorption from consumer products or via ingestion due to migration from the packaging material to food [ 142 , 145 ]. It is worth noting that these migration rates can increase at high temperatures [ 142 ].…”

“…Both phthalates and bisphenols can enter the human body through dermal absorption from consumer products or via ingestion due to migration from the packaging material to food [ 142 , 145 ]. It is worth noting that these migration rates can increase at high temperatures [ 142 ].…”