Some plastic food wraps used in China are toxic and could lead to cancer, according to a quality inspection official in Beijing.

However, a spokesman for a manufacturer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wrap said that consumers are at risk only if the food under the wrap is cooked or reheated by a microwave oven.

The wrap, or cling-film, is not sold directly to consumers but is used by many supermarkets, he said.

"The plasticizer used to make PVC wraps contains a chemical that could migrate into food," Weng Yunxuan, director of the National Centre for Quality Supervision and Test of Plastic Products, told Shanghai-based daily China Business News.

"Fatty foods are especially able to absorb the chemical." Weng said the chemical, known as DEHA, could result in endocrine dysfunction and cause cancer.

Attempts to reach Weng on Friday were unsuccessful.

However, one of the wrap's manufacturers said they are safe if used properly.

"Such a statement is unfair," said Wang Zhihong, spokesman for the Shanghai Gunze Extruded Plastic Products Co Ltd, a Sino-Japanese joint venture that produces 2,000 tons of PVC food wrap per year.

Wang cautioned that PVC wrap should not be used to package fatty food, cooked food or heated food. Neither should it be put into a microwave oven.

"It is quite safe if you use PVC on unprocessed foods such as vegetable and meat." Wang said.

"We've done our best to tell our clients to use PVC wraps properly, but we cannot guarantee that all our products are used safely."

Wang said ordinary consumers cannot buy PVC wrap in supermarkets for home use. It is sold only to big stores or supermarkets.

(China Daily October 15, 2005)