Is it safe to buy cheese pre-wrapped in plastic?
Not ideal. Cheese fat pulls phthalates from the wrap for as long as they're in contact.
What's actually in it
Pre-wrapped cheese is typically in PVC cling film or polyethylene. PVC uses phthalates as plasticizers. Fat in cheese pulls phthalates into the cheese surface for as long as they're in contact, even in the fridge.
Individually wrapped cheese slices are the worst case: thin plastic against cheese for maximum contact area per serving.
What the research says
A 2025 study in J Hazard Mater measured phthalates across real diets and flagged plastic-wrapped cheese as a measurable source. A 2025 study found measurable microplastics in white cheese.
Buy cheese from a deli counter wrapped in paper, or a block of cheese in wax or glass. Re-wrap at home in beeswax wraps or store in a glass container.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic additives in the diet. | J Hazard Mater | 2025 |
| Development of a digestion method for microplastic quantification in white cheese. | Food Hydrocoll | 2025 |
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