Can chlorinated paraffins in chicken meat pose a health risk?

What's actually in it

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are industrial chemicals used as flame retardants, plasticizers, and lubricants. They end up in the food chain through contaminated soil, water, and animal feed. Chicken absorbs these chemicals through the feed it eats, and they concentrate in the fat and muscle tissue you buy at the store.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Foods tested chicken meat samples from across China for chlorinated paraffin contamination. The researchers found CPs in every sample tested. Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), the most toxic type, made up a large share of the total.

The study calculated that people who eat chicken regularly could be getting doses close to or above the tolerable daily intake set by food safety agencies. Children and people who eat chicken several times a week face higher exposure.

You can't wash or cook chlorinated paraffins out of meat. To lower your exposure, trim visible fat from chicken before cooking, since CPs concentrate in fatty tissue. Choosing organic or pasture-raised chicken may also help, as the feed tends to be cleaner.