Materials and food additives free of endocrine disruptive chemicals

Abstract

The present invention describes plastic materials and food additives that are free or substantially free from endocrine disruptive chemicals. The plastic materials may be used in products which are exposed to individuals in which endocrine disruptive activity is particularly disadvantageous, such as baby bottles, baby toys, food containers, medical containers, animal cages and medical products. The food additives may be used in food products that are ingested by individuals in which endocrine disruptive activity is particularly disadvantageous, such as newborns or the physically infirm. The present invention also describes a series of assays which, when performed in combination, provide a novel method for determining the presence of endocrine disruptive activity.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A polymeric material substantially void of endocrine disruptive chemicals comprising a monomer wherein said monomer is polymerized to form a polymeric material substantially void of endocrine disruptive chemicals.  
     
     
         2 . The polymeric material of  claim 1  wherein said monomer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene and propylene.  
     
     
         3 . An article made from the polymeric material as recited in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         4 . An article made from the polymeric material as recited in  claim 1  selected from the group consisting of baby bottles, baby toys, medical devices, food containers, beverage containers, medical containers and animal cages.  
     
     
         5 . A polymeric material substantially void of endocrine disruptive chemicals comprising a monomer wherein said monomer is polymerized in the presence of an antioxidant to form a polymeric material substantially void of endocrine disruptive chemicals.  
     
     
         6 . The polymeric material recited in  claim 5  wherein said monomer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene and propylene.  
     
     
         7 . An article made from the polymeric material as recited in  claim 5 .  
     
     
         8 . A process for preparing a polymeric material substantially void of endocrine disruptive chemicals, said process comprising the steps of: 
 (a) polymerizing a monomer selected from the group consisting of ethylene and propylene; and    (b) processing said polymerized monomer to form a polymeric material substantially void of endocrine disruptive chemicals.    
     
     
         9 . A process for preparing a polymeric material substantially void of endocrine disruptive chemicals, said process comprising the steps of: 
 (a) polymerizing a monomer selected from the group consisting of ethylene and propylene; and    (b) processing said polymerized monomer with an antioxidant to form a polymeric material substantially void of endocrine disruptive chemicals.    
     
     
         10 . A food product substantially void of endocrine chemicals comprised by processing said food product with additives selected from the group consisting of propyl gallate, octyl gallate, dodecyl gallate, ethoxyquin, carnosine, glycyrrhizic acid, sesamin, sesamolin, monoisopropyl citrate and thiodiproprionic acid.