Is it safe to drink beverages from polystyrene cups with photoinitiator residues?
No. Polystyrene beverage cups migrate photoinitiators and other printing chemicals.
What's actually in it
Beverage cups with printed logos, lids with printed patterns, or colored decorations use inks cured with UV light. The curing process uses photoinitiators: chemicals that start the polymerization when UV hits. Residue photoinitiators migrate from the printed surface into the beverage. Polystyrene and polyethylene cups are the main culprits.
A daily coffee or takeout drink in a printed cup adds these chemicals to the liquid.
What the research says
A 2026 study in J Environ Sci Health B measured migration of phthalates, bisphenols, photoinitiators, and perfluorinated compounds in polyethylene and polystyrene beverage packaging. All four chemical classes migrated into beverages. Printed and colored cups released more than plain ones. Warm drinks accelerated migration.
For daily beverages, bring a reusable stainless or glass cup to the coffee shop. Many shops offer discounts for reusables. At home, ceramic or glass mugs skip the whole issue. For takeout, plain white uncoated paper or cups with minimal printing are cleaner than heavily decorated ones. Transfer the drink to a home mug as soon as possible.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Migration of phthalates, bisphenols, photoinitiators, and perfluorinated compounds in polyethylene and polystyrene based beverage packaging. | J Environ Sci Health B | 2026 |
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