Abstract:

The migration of 16 phthalic acid esters (PAEs) from plastic packaging to fresh pork at 80 or 4 ℃ and peanut oil
at 25 or 4 ℃ was studied as a function of temperature, contact time and types and amounts of PAEs. The results confirmed
that PAEs migrated from plastic packaging to meat and edible oil. The total migration amount of 16 PAEs (Σ16PAEs) from
3 different plastic packagings to meat was 3.2–5.6 mg/kg at 80 ℃ in 120 min, which was close to that at 4 ℃ in 6 days. The
Σ16PAEs from 2 plastic packaging materials to edible oil was 9.0–10.0 mg/kg at 25 ℃ in 25 days, which was significantly
higher than at 4 ℃. The Σ16PAEs from plastic packaging to foodstuff increased with longer contact time, and the migration
rate was faster during the early stages. A positive correlation between Σ16PAEs and PAE contents was observed at both 25
and 80 ℃. PAEs migrated at varying rates depending on molecular size; higher molecular weight resulted in lower migration
rate. All the 6 PAEs limited with priority by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could migrate.

Key words: phthalic acid esters, plastic packaging, meat, edible oil, migration