Phthalates
phthalates, DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, phthalic acid esters, ftalatos
What it is
A group of synthetic chemical plasticizers used to make food-contact plastics flexible.
Why BOTIA flags it
EFSA's 2019 review covered five phthalates: DBP, BBP, DEHP, DINP and DIDP. The first four share a temporary intake limit; DIDP has its own. The review did not show that phthalates as a class cause endometriosis or PCOS.
BOTIA CAN
- Detect warning indicators or material types that may release phthalates when heated.
- Explain what EFSA found for DBP, BBP, DEHP, DINP and DIDP, including DIDP's separate limit. A food label alone cannot show whether a phthalate migrated into the food, or how much.
BOTIA CANNOT
- Directly detect phthalate concentrations in food via visual OCR of the packaging.
- Verify if migration levels from plastic gaskets or wraps exceed the European specific migration limits (SML).