Survey of phthalate levels in Italian oily foods contained in glass jars with PVC gaskets

A method based on gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry was used to assess levels of twelve phthalates in 50 samples of oily foods packed in glass jars with metal closure obtained from a retail market. The amounts of di-methyl phthalate, di-ethyl phthalate, di-propyl phthalate, di-butyl phthalate, di-pentyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate, di-cyclohexyl phthalate, di-n-octyl phthalate, di-isononyl phthalate and di-isodecyl phthalate in all samples analysed were less than the limit of quantification (LOQ). Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was detected in 20 samples in the range from 0.1 to 6 mg kg(-1) with an average of 1.0 mg kg(-1), and it exceeded the specific migration limit (SML) of 1.5 mg kg(-1) in five cases with an average of 3.0 mg kg(-1). Di-isobutyl phthalate was found in four samples at 0.1-0.4 mg kg(-1). The PVC gaskets used for the lids were negative for all tested phthalates, suggesting that the contamination of the foods originated from other sources, e.g. olive oil.