After simultaneous distillation-extraction (SDE) of foods packed in polystyrene (n = 77) and polypropylene cups (n = 42) from 61 different suppliers, coupled capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (HRGC-MS) analyses indicated the presence of diastereomers of 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate (TMPD-MIB; Texanol), a known coalescent of paints and printing inks. The contaminant was found in 55 and 50% of the polystyrene and polypropylene packed samples, respectively. Amounts ranged 1.2-64.5 microg kg(-1) in polystyrene cups (average 25.1 microg kg(-1)) and 0.9-45.7 microg kg(-1) in polypropylene cups (average 10.8 microg kg(-1)). The origin of Texanol in the printed plastic cups was demonstrated by separate HRGC-MS analysis, showing amounts in the higher microg kg(-1) range. In addition, the presence of two pairs of enantiomers, both found to be racemic by enantioselective multi-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (enantio-MDGC-MS), excluded it being of natural origin. The detection limit of overall procedure (DLOP) and the reliable quantification limit (RQL) were 0.2 and 0.9 microg kg(-1), respectively. As the diester, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate (TXIB), is on the EU list of regulated substances (restricted to single-use gloves only) with a migration limit of 5 mg kg(-1) in food and is metabolised rapidly by hydrolysis, the observed migration of the monoester Texanol at the microg kg(-1) level poses no risk of adverse effects.