The changes could eventually allow more or less use of the individual phthalate compounds in plastic packaging, depending on whether the recommendations are approved by the EU's parliament.

Phthalates have become a health hot spot. Recent animal studies on its toxicity have raised questions about possible human health effects and sparked calls for further studies on the chemicals.

Phthalates are a class of compounds used most commonly as a softener for products made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In the food industry phthalate compounds are most commonly used forplastic packaging materials. The most commonly used phthalate is DEHP.

Food contamination occurs because of the use of PCV in wrapping materials. Phthalates have been found in meat, fish, milk products, and other foods with a high fat content.

The European parliament in July banned six phthalate softeners in PVC toys and childcare articles that can be placed in children's mouths.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) re-evaluated Butylbenzylphthalate (BBP), di-Butylphthalate (DBP), Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), Di-isodecylphthalate (DIDP) and Di-isononylphthalate (DINP).

During the 1990s, the EU evaluated a number of phthalates that were being used, or were requested for use, as additives in plastics. These included a few

extensively investigated substances, BBP, DBP, DEHP, DINP and DIDP, as well as a large number of phthalates for which there was little or no toxicity information.

In 1994, faced with these uncertainties, the EU decided to set a tolerable daily intake (TDI) for many phthalic esters, based on a study for peroxisome

proliferation in rat liver.

Now the EFSA says scientists generally agree that the studies should not be used for human risk assessment as rodents are highly are highly sensitive to peroxisome.

DBP, DEHP and BBP affect the testis and reproduction. DINP and DIDP have an affect on the liver. Due to the different effects the panel was not able a give an overall group TDI for the chemicals.

In the case of BBP, EFSA's scientific panel recommends that the EU raises the TDI limits to of 0.5 mg/kg of body weight (bw), from 0.1 mg/kg bw.

The panel noted that the dietary exposure to BBP derived from packaging and other sources may contribute up to about one per cent of the TDI value.

In the case of DBP the panel recommends lowering the minimum TDI to 0.01 mg/kg bw from 0.05 mg/kg bw. The panel notes that exposure to DBP from food consumption is in the range of the TDI.

For DEHP the panel recommends keeping the TDI at 0.05 mg/kg bw. The panel recommends that the TDI for DIDP should also be maintained at 0.15 mg/kg bw.

The TDIs for DIDP and DINP were also maintained at 0.15 mg/kg bw.

The European parliament in July banned six phthalate softeners in PVC toys and childcare articles that can be placed in children's mouths. The restrictions are expected to come into force sometimenext year.

The ban will apply to DINP - by far the most commonly-used phthalate in PVC toys - plus DIDP and DNOP. DEHP, DBP and BBP will be banned outright in all toys, regardless of whether they can be putin children's mouths.

Consumer concerns about food safety and a number of costly recalls have led to tougher regulatory action and increased survelliance of processing plants. A survey by Globescan last year of France,the UK, Germany and Italy found that 36 per cent of consumers believed food safety is worse today than 20 years ago. Another 22 per cent believed it no better.

External links to companies or organisations mentioned in this story:

• European Food Safety Authority