Can plastic additives in food raise daily exposure?
Yes. A 2025 total diet study found plasticizers in 85% of 109 food samples and estimated exposure for infants, toddlers, and adults.
What is actually in it
Plastic food contact can add plasticizers to food. These additives help plastic stay flexible, but some can move from packaging or food-contact materials into food.
Heat, fat, storage time, and packaging type can affect what moves into food. Glass storage at home is not a fix for chemicals already present from processing or store packaging, but it can remove one daily plastic contact point.
What the research says
A 2025 study in J Hazard Mater tested 109 food samples. Plasticizers were detected in 85% of analyzed samples.
The study found non-phthalate plasticizers such as ATBC and DEHA in food, with exposure estimates for infants, toddlers, and adults. It also found a DEHP hazard quotient concern for the infant baby-food subgroup.
A practical step is to move leftovers and meal prep into glass storage instead of plastic containers.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic additives in the diet: Occurrence and dietary exposure in different population groups. | J Hazard Mater | 2025 |