Are benzotriazole UV stabilizers from plastic packaging leaching into your food?

What's actually in it

Benzotriazole UV stabilizers (BUVs) are chemicals added to plastics to prevent them from breaking down in sunlight. Without them, plastic packaging would yellow, crack, and fall apart on store shelves. They're in food wrap, containers, bottles, and bags. The problem is that these chemicals can migrate out of the plastic and into whatever's inside: your food.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Int measured benzotriazole UV stabilizers in food samples. The researchers found these chemicals in a wide range of food types, from packaged snacks to beverages. The levels varied depending on the type of packaging, how long the food sat in it, and whether it was stored in warm conditions.

BUVs are suspected endocrine disruptors. Some have been shown to interfere with thyroid hormones and reproductive function in lab studies. Unlike BPA or phthalates, BUVs have received very little regulatory attention, so there are few limits on how much can be in your food.

The more food you eat from plastic packaging, the more BUVs you're likely consuming. Fresh food without plastic wrapping, glass storage containers, and stainless steel bottles all cut your exposure. It's one more reason to move away from plastic in the kitchen.