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74 P R A C T I C A L W I N E R Y & V I N E YA R D May 2015 P A C K A G I N G lab testing can yield compromised results due to the use of plastic products in labo- ratory systems and their potential to con- tribute leachates. 26 Naturally, wine producers could also simply continue to employ traditional materials (wood, stainless steel, glass and cork) for production and packaging, which largely avoid potential sources of petroleum or animal-based chemicals. Analytical methods and results Bisphenols and phthalates are mostly found at trace levels (nanograms per mil- liliter or less), therefore analytical quan- tification in both solids and in liquid samples start with liquid–liquid extrac- tion, solid-phase extraction, or solid- phase micro-extraction to concentrate the analytes prior to chromatographic analy- sis. Phthalate analysis is based mainly on GC-FID, GC-MS, GC/IT-MS, LC-MS, while HPLC and fluorescence detection have been used for bisphenols. 3,7 DBP, BBP, and DOP have been found in wines, including DEHP at levels exceed- ing the EPA limit (6 g/L) for DEHP in water, particularly in a wine with syn- thetic or agglomerated cork stoppers. 7,39 Total phthalates in the wines analyzed ranged between 2.7 and 15 µg/L. 7 BPA press material and additives can all con- tain or be contaminated with plasticizers or bisphenols. 4,6,39 Options to reduce toxicity due to plas- ticizer leachate include the use of alterna- tive plasticizers such as the replacement of petroleum-based plasticizers with those derived from natural compounds. Biopolymers derived from polysaccha- rides, proteins, lipids and microbes are potential sources for natural plasticizers. Biopolymers have less toxicity, leachabil- ity and are biodegradable, however, they tend to have reduced mechanical proper- ties and performance. 52 Biopolymers cur- rently only share 5% to 10% of the market and cost more than their non-biopolymer counterparts. Many petroleum-based plastics con- tain leachable additives that have the potential for health effects. Nevertheless, many food contact-approved plastic resins, such as specific formulations of polyethylene, currently offer useful functional properties and do not con- tain additives or other substances that cause cancer, birth defects or reproduc- tive harm at levels that would require a warning under California Prop. 65. 13 Examples of polyethylene products available to the wine industry include wine bottle closures and wine tanks. Nevertheless, even polyethylene products can contain bioactive ingredients added for various purposes (UV stabilization), but not necessarily in all cases. While manufacturers may state that their products contain no PVC and phthalates are not added during the pro- duction process, the plastics used may contain additives that are not bisphenols or phthalates. It may be relevant to certain wine producers and their customers that some plastics, such as polyethylene, may con- tain additives synthesized from animal extracts such as fatty acids produced by the hydrolysis of animal fats (tallow), and there may be corresponding declarations of compliance or noncompliance with various religious dietary laws such as kosher laws. 13 Concerned users of plastic products may want to contact manufacturers for details about the identity and/or purity of the plastic resin(s) used, notwithstanding nondisclosure of proprietary information. Currently there is no simple way of identifying the purity of these products except by the manufacturer's resin code and supporting regulatory data sheet, or independent lab tests. Even independent • Climate Controlled Bonded Wine Storage Facility • Cased Goods, Full Barrels, and Dry Goods • Centrally located in Paso Robles • Unix Inventory System Trucking, Harvesting and Warehousing Available! 3230 Riverside Ave, Ste # 150 Paso Robles, CA 93446 Phone (805) 237-9499 Fax (805) 237-9599 MichaelDusiWarehouse_Dir07 10/25/06 11:49 AM Page 1