On the 16th, a reporter reached out to the China Chlor-Alkali Industry Association to investigate the growing issue of foreign food cling film entering the Chinese market. The association confirmed that since the second half of the year, food gelling films containing dioctyl adipate (DEHA)—a substance linked to endocrine system disorders—have been banned in the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. Major brands like Mitsubishi and Sanrong now dominate nearly 80% of the domestic market.
According to Mr. Zhu Shengsuo, an expert from the association, while modern PVC production processes have significantly improved and meet hygiene standards, plasticizers are still necessary to achieve softness and adhesion. These plasticizers are not chemically bonded to the plastic but are mixed in, which means they can leach into food when in contact. Studies from abroad suggest that common PVC plasticizers may harm human health, including disrupting the endocrine system, increasing breast cancer risks, causing birth defects, male infertility, and even mental disorders. Animal experiments have shown that DEHA exposure can lead to cancer and endocrine damage. As a result, the U.S. and Japan banned DEHA-containing materials in food packaging as early as 2000, with South Korea following suit this year.
Liu Dongsheng, deputy secretary-general of the association, explained that China’s food wrap industry initially avoided using PVC due to health concerns. Instead, it opted for polyethylene, which doesn’t require plasticizers. However, Japanese and South Korean companies, facing bans at home, have shifted their operations to China. They’ve brought in equipment and used cheaper local PVC to produce cling film. With rising oil prices, the cost of polyethylene has surged, making domestically produced polyethylene wraps less competitive against the cheaper imported PVC alternatives.
Notably, these potentially harmful films manage to enter the Chinese market because they pass health inspections. China’s current standards for food-grade PVC, issued by the Ministry of Health in 1988, do not specifically restrict the use of PVC in food packaging or set limits on DEHA. Inspections are conducted based on these outdated regulations, allowing such products to clear customs and gain market access. This raises serious concerns about consumer safety and the need for updated regulations.
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