How much daily bisphenol and phthalate exposure do people actually get from food packaging?

What's actually in it

Food packaging is the largest single source of bisphenol and phthalate exposure for most people. BPA is in metal can linings and some plastic containers. Phthalates are in PVC food wrap, plastic food bags, and contaminate food through plastic processing equipment. Both migrate from packaging into food, especially when food is heated, fatty, or acidic.

Regulatory risk assessments typically use conservative assumptions about how much food people actually eat and how much chemical migrates from packaging. Real dietary surveys consistently show higher actual exposures.

What the research says

A dietary survey measuring plastic additive occurrence and daily dietary exposure across populations found that bisphenol and phthalate intake from food packaging in the average consumer exceeded levels that have been associated with health effects in sensitive populations. People who ate more packaged, canned, and processed foods had 2-5 times higher exposure than those eating mostly fresh foods.

The study confirmed that the "tolerable daily intake" levels set by regulators are based on outdated science and don't account for the combined effect of multiple bisphenols and phthalates simultaneously.

Eating less canned and packaged food, using glass and stainless steel containers, and avoiding heating food in plastic reduces actual daily exposure dramatically.