Targeted screening of 11 bisphenols and 7 plasticizers in food composites from Canada and South Africa.

• 18 contaminants were analyzed in 168 food from Canada and South Africa. • Bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS) and seven plasticizers were detected in food. • DBP and DEP were the most frequently detected contaminants in Montreal. • DINP was the most frequently detected contaminant in South Africa. • DEHA levels in packaged fish were higher than the values for non-packaged fish. A sensitive method based on ultrasound-assisted liquid extraction coupled with liquid chromatography was applied to screen 18 plastic-related contaminants in 168 food composites (namely fish fillets, chicken breast, canned tuna, leafy vegetables, bread and butter) collected in Montreal (Canada), Pretoria and Vhembe (South Africa). Bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS) and seven plasticizers (di- n -butyl phthalate (DBP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA), di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), di-(isononyl)-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH)) were detected in different foods from both countries. DBP and DEP were the most frequently detected contaminants in food collected in Montreal (75% for both) and DINP was the most frequently detected contaminant in food from South Africa (67%). DEHA concentration in packaged fish were significantly higher than the values for non-packaged fish (p < 0.01) suggesting that the packaging film can be one source of DEHA in fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]