Is it safe to use plastic wrap for food storage?
No. Plastic food storage materials are known to leach chemicals like phthalates and bisphenols into your food, which can disrupt your hormones.
What's actually in it
Plastic wraps and containers are not inert. They are made with chemical additives that do not stay put. These include phthalates (chemicals used to make plastic soft and flexible) and bisphenols (compounds used to harden plastic). These substances are designed to migrate out of the material and into whatever is touching them, including your leftovers.
Once these chemicals leach into your food, they enter your body. They are known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals. This means they interfere with your body's natural hormone systems, which can lead to serious health issues over time.
What the research says
The science is clear: plastic packaging is a source of chemical exposure. A 2026 study in J Environ Sci Health B confirmed that phthalates, bisphenols, and perfluorinated compounds migrate directly from plastic materials into the contents they hold.
This exposure is not harmless. A 2026 study in Ecotoxicol Environ Saf highlights the link between these endocrine-disrupting chemicals and metabolic dysfunction, specifically noting their role in liver disease. The risk increases when these materials are exposed to heat. A 2026 study in J Food Sci Technol found that temperature changes significantly impact how much of these harmful compounds leach into your food, making the storage of warm food in plastic particularly dangerous.
The research at a glance
What to use instead
Browse our vetted, non-toxic alternatives. Every product is third-party certified.
Shop Non-Toxic Kitchen