As reported in the daily newspaper Shanghai Daily on July 30, 2013, China Central Television (CCTV) found high levels of bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA, CAS # 103-23-1) in 15 out of 16 samples of food plastic wrap. According to CCTV, DEHA was present in sampled food grade plastic films at levels up to 23.6 percent, and hence, far above the detection threshold of 0.05 percent. CCTV bought produce wrapped in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic film in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, and tested the PVC films for the presence of DEHA. CCTV did not disclose which supermarkets were affected by their findings. DEHA was banned from the use in plastic wrap by the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine in 2005 due to its endocrine disrupting properties. According to Shanghai Daily, a manufacturer of plastic wrap admitted to CCTV that DEHA was used as a raw material due to its lower cost compared to alternative PVC films. DEHA is authorized as an indirect additive in the U.S.. In Europe, DEHA is authorized for plastic food contact materials under EC regulation 10/2011 with a specific migration limit of 18 mg/kg.
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