These conclusions are supported by similar rigorous evaluations of phthalate exposures in the diet, some published as recently as 2018, from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ), and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The U.S. FDA concluded in 2018 that “there have been no studies to date which show any connection between human dietary exposure to phthalates and adverse health effects,” and is currently undertaking its own thorough review.
The author of “5 Ways Grocers Can Address Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging” says that phthalates like DINP and DIDP “pose significant financial, legal, regulatory and reputational liabilities to businesses that are not properly managing the risks.” These claims are unfounded. First, the evidence from credible food safety agencies around the world clearly indicates no findings of risk from phthalates in food. Secondly, phthalates like DINP and DIDP continue to be approved for use in food-contact applications (such as vinyl gloves, tubing, conveyor belts and cap gaskets) around the world, including in the United States, European Union (EU) and China.
The EU recently confirmed that dietary exposures to DINP and DIDP continue to be well below safe limits, and that it intends to maintain their use in food-contact materials. On Aug. 9, 2019, Japan published a draft list of materials that can be used in food contact. Phthalates like DINP and DIDP are included in this draft list. To be clear, regulatory agencies around the globe that are tasked with protecting public health are permitting the use of DINP and DIDP in food contact materials based on thorough review.
We believe that sustainability policies should be based on thoughtful consideration of product performance, durability and safety. Critically for consumers, while multiple reviews support the continued use of DINP and DIDP, there is no single dietary risk evaluation conducted by a reputable food safety agency for any of the purported “safer alternatives.” Rather, we are asked to simply trust that the alternatives are safe based on a subjective score from limited hazard screens run by for-profit organizations.