Is it safe to drink hot chocolate from a styrofoam cup?
Based on 1 peer-reviewed studykitchen
Verdict: Avoid
No. Hot fatty liquid in polystyrene is the worst case for styrene migration.
What's actually in it
Styrofoam cups are expanded polystyrene. Heating releases styrene, classed as a possible human carcinogen. Hot chocolate is fatty from milk, which pulls styrene much faster than water does.
What the research says
A 2025 study in J Agric Food Chem documented plastic particle release in hot conditions. Styrene migration follows similar rules.
For hot chocolate to-go, bring a ceramic or stainless steel travel mug. Most cafes will fill it.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Release of Nanoplastics from Polypropylene Food Containers. | J Agric Food Chem | 2025 |
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