AbstractThe migration of phthalate plasticizers from poly (vinyl chloride) into edible oils has been analyzed. The principal method used involved14C‐labeled dibutyl and dioctyl phthalates with detection by liquid scintillation spectrophotometry. In most cases, the migration of the main plasticizer was accompanied by the migration of the secondary plasticizer, when present, and by diffusion of the oil into the polymer. Comparison of the scintillation results with those obtained by weight loss measurements can give quantitative information on the amount of the liquid medium that diffuses during the migration process. The effect of the following factors on the migration process was examined; (a) the nature and acidity of the edible oil, (b) the composition and amount of phthalate plasticizer, (c) the amount of epoxy plasticizer, and (d) the temperature and time of contac