4 favorite foods with the most toxic plasticizers

mda2staff — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:03:44 +0000

By Anastasia Climan, RDN, CD-N | Fact-checked by Barbara Bekiesz | Published November 15, 2024

Key Takeaways

The use of phthalates in food processing and packaging has led to widespread daily exposure, often in foods that are marketed as healthy.
Phthalates are endocrine disruptors with significant implications for human health.
Avoiding processed foods helps lessen phthalate exposure until manufacturing practices can be made safer.

Phthalates are plasticizers—chemicals that make plastic more flexible and durable. Although useful, the widespread application of phthalates in manufacturing has left their residue on almost everything humans touch, from printed receipts to household dust and even our favorite foods and beverages.^[1]

A 2024 report from Consumer Reports revealed some startling facts—many of the items topping their list of foods with the highest concentration of toxic plasticizers are marketed as health foods, including the following.^[1]

Fairlife Core Power high-protein chocolate milkshakes
Annie’s Organic cheesy ravioli
Yoplait Original French vanilla low-fat yogurt
Chicken of the Sea pink salmon

While experts have yet to establish an official safe limit for phthalate exposure, there’s good evidence that less is probably better.^[2] MDLinx spoke with a dietitian and a food scientist for insights into this growing concern.

Potential impact on human health

“Phthalates are known to interfere with the action of hormones in our bodies. They may imitate certain hormones or prevent them from performing normal biological processes,” explains Tami Best, a functional and integrative registered dietitian with Top Nutrition Coaching.

Best emphasizes that endocrine disruptors like phthalates have long-reaching implications for the human body, particularly in vulnerable populations. “Changing the function or efficacy of hormones can disrupt growth, development, reproduction, immunity, stress regulation, circadian rhythm, and metabolic health,” she says.

One of the biggest concerns about phthalates is that because they’re so ubiquitous, exposure is ongoing. “Often, the harmful impacts are not noted immediately or even obvious and can occur over a lifetime,” says Best.

How phthalates sneak into the food supply

“Since plastic is being used more than it ever has, we are just now seeing the effects of overuse,” explains Stephanie Laham, food scientist and director of research and development for Lyman Orchards. “Various points of entry throughout the food production process allow for phthalate exposure. From the environment to agricultural practices, to processing to packaging, every step from farm to table represents a potential opportunity for phthalates to enter your food or personal care products.”

Consumer Reports has been investigating the levels of phthalates and other toxins in the food supply for decades. In addition to the foods marketed as healthy and organic, their 2024 report also revealed that many favorite fast food items, including Wendy’s crispy chicken nuggets, Chipotle’s chicken burrito, and Burger King’s Whopper with cheese, were also very high in phthalates……

#Consumer Reports Archives | Macular Degeneration Association

4 favorite foods with the most toxic plasticizers

Key Takeaways