Do plastic cups and straws leach chemicals into your drinks?

What's actually in it

Plastic cups, straws, lids, and stirrers are made from polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS). These plastics contain additives to make them flexible, clear, UV-resistant, and printable. Those additives aren't glued in permanently. They can migrate from the plastic into your drink, especially with hot beverages, acidic drinks like juice, or alcohol.

Most people use these items daily: a coffee lid at the drive-through, a straw at lunch, a plastic cup at a party.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Food Chem tested how much chemical migration happens from PE and PS beverage containers. The researchers checked for phthalates, bisphenols, photoinitiators, and perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) using sensitive lab methods.

All four chemical families were detected in the drinks. Phthalates were the most common migrants, followed by bisphenol compounds. Photoinitiators, chemicals used in printing and UV-curing the packaging, also showed up. Even PFAS were found in some samples.

Hot drinks pulled out more chemicals than cold ones. Acidic drinks like orange juice extracted more than plain water. The longer the drink sat in the container, the more chemicals migrated.

The safest option is bringing your own reusable cup or bottle made from stainless steel, glass, or ceramic. If you do use a plastic cup, drink from it quickly rather than letting your beverage sit for hours.