Can phthalates in hot pot broth containers get into your food?
Yes. Testing found DEHP and DBP phthalates in packaged hot pot bases at levels that pose a health risk with regular consumption.
What's actually in it
Hot pot broth bases are sold in pouches and containers that often contain plastic linings or seals. The broth inside is typically fatty and spicy, a combination that's very good at pulling chemicals out of plastic packaging. Two phthalates are of special concern: DEHP and DBP. Both are plasticizers used in food packaging.
DEHP and DBP are endocrine disruptors. They interfere with testosterone and other reproductive hormones. Children and pregnant women are most vulnerable to their effects.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Toxics measured DEHP and DBP levels in commercially sold hot pot bases and ran a risk assessment to see if the amounts were dangerous.
Both chemicals showed up in the broth. DEHP was found at higher concentrations than DBP, which makes sense because DEHP is used more widely in food packaging materials.
The risk assessment found that people who eat hot pot regularly could exceed safe daily intake limits for these phthalates. The oily nature of hot pot broth extracts more plasticizer from packaging than water-based foods would.
If you cook hot pot at home, transferring the broth base out of its packaging and into a glass or stainless steel pot before heating can reduce your exposure.
The research at a glance
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