FSANZ finds plastic drink bottles not a safety risk
It has been brought to the attention of FSANZ that there is an email circulating claiming that DEHA chemicals in plastic drink bottles may contaminate the drink inside. DEHA stands for di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate not diethylhydroxylamine as stated in the email.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has examined this claim and found that it is incorrect. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Consumer, November-December 2002 (http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fdacplas.html) also states ‘ One chemical called diethylhexyl adipate (DEHA) has received a lot of media attention. DEHA is a plasticizer, a substance added to some plastics to make them flexible. DEHA exposure may occur when eating certain foods wrapped in plastics, especially fatty foods such as meat and cheese. But the levels are very low. The levels of the plasticizer that might be consumed as a result of plastic film use are well below the levels showing no toxic effect in animal studies.’
The Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association ( http://www.softdrink.org.au/Acrobat/PetBottles2.pdf ) and the Australasian Soft Drink Association ( http://www.pacia.com.au/Media/index_frames7.html ) have also reassured consumers that PET* (plastic) bottles used for drinking water can be safely re-used – subject to normal hygiene practices. DEHA is not used in plastic bottles.
The advice from the Food Safety Information Council ( www.foodsafety.asn.au ) on the microbiological risk of refilling water bottles is:
- Bugs can contaminate used drink bottles from your mouth or touching the top with unwashed hands.
- These bugs can multiply in the water and give you gastroenteritis.
- To avoid this, after every use, rinse out the bottle and leave to drain until completely dry.
- Refill the bottle and, if you are not using it in the next 2 hours, refrigerate it under 5 °C.
3 October 2003