Transfer of additives from plastics materials into foodstuffs and into food simulants--a comparison.

The transfer of stearyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate from high- and low-density polyethylenes and polypropylene as well as that of n-butyl stearate from high-impact polystyrene into several foodstuffs and into different food simulants under normal storage conditions was determined radioanalytically. Additionally, the transfer of these additives into the food simulants under the standard conditions usually requested by the authorities was determined. From these figures 'correction factors' were calculated, relating the amounts of additives transferred from the plastics materials into the foodstuffs under normal conditions of storage to the transfer of these additives from the test specimens into food simulants (e.g. olive oil and HB 307) under the standard test condition of exposure at 40 degrees C for 10 days.