Which foods contain phthalates

Well, if you ask the American Chemistry Council, a lobby group for phthalate manufacturers, phthalates are totally safe and "among the most thoroughly studied family of compounds in the world. The effect of phthalates, especially on male reproductive development, has been observed since the s, and phthalates are now widely known to be " endocrine disruptors. A Frontline special explained that:. Hormones are chemical messengers that travel throughout the body coordinating complex processes like growth, metabolism, and fertility.

They can influence the function of the immune system, and even alter behavior In response to a signal from the brain, hormones are secreted directly into the blood by the glands that produce and store them. These glands make up what is known as the endocrine system. Chemicals that interfere with the function of hormones are therefore known as endocrine disruptors. Phthalates are thought to mimic and displace hormones and interrupt their production.

This can have a range of unpleasant effects. Weirdly, not all soft plastic contains phthalates. Most plastic wraps, water bottles, and food containers are phthalate-free. But don't breathe a sigh of relief just yet. Plastic wrap, for instance, typically contains DEHA di 2-ethylhexyl adipate , which -- while not technically a phthalate -- is chemically very close to DEHP and has been associated with liver tumors in rodent studies. My advice is to eschew plastic as much as possible more on this below.

I don't know about you, but I'm freaked out. Eliminating all phthalate exposure might be impossible, but we can certainly greatly reduce the burden with the following strategies. Stay away from fragrance. Unfortunately, you will very rarely see phthalates listed on a product label -- particularly if you're worried about a rubber ducky or a vibrator. Luckily, there are clues. When it comes to cosmetics, the word "fragrance" or "parfum" on a label almost always means phthalates.

What you want to see are claims like: "no synthetic fragrance" or "scented with only essential oils" or "phthalate-free. Crack the code. Plastic products with recycling codes 3 and 7 may contain phthalates or BPA. Look for plastic with recycling codes 1, 2, or 5. Ditch hand-me-down plastic toys. Happily, several types of phthalates are now banned from children's toys, teethers , bottles, and feeding products.

Phthalates in food. Why phthalates in food are a concern Scientific evidence has linked phthalates to many reproductive, developmental and endocrine-related health problems.

What's happening to reduce phthalates? Recommendations for testing for phthalates in food. Our health experts. You can also become exposed by using the personal care products that contain this chemical. Inhalation of phthalate particles from contaminated vapors or dust is a possibility of exposure as well. So far, there is no conclusive data why phthalates are harming our bodies the way they do. Although the definite health effects of phthalate exposure are unknown at this point, there appears to be relationships between this chemical and cancer, reproduction and development issues, asthma, obesity, and endocrine disruption.

Even though phthalates can be found all around us, diet is now being considered as a potential major cause of exposure to this chemical — especially when that diet is mostly comprised of fast food. People who eat out more often were found to have phthalate levels 35 percent higher than people who eat meals prepared at home.

This is because of the increased handling of food in restaurant settings. The equipment and packaging used to process certain foods contain phthalates, the gloves employees have to wear when handling food has phthalates, and the take out containers used to bring leftovers home is made up of phthalates as well.

Although the food you buy from the grocery store also goes through some of the same processes as the food in restaurants, the amount of handling and packaging involved is nowhere near the same. Some of the food items that were contaminated by phthalates the most were meats and grain-based food items like burritos, burgers, rice, and noodles.

Although the reason why is uncertain, some guesses are that the fat content in these foods are better at binding with phthalates than other foods, or because they come into contact with this chemical more during processing and packaging.

The bad news: this chemical is everywhere. The good news, though, is that you can reduce your exposure to phthalates — a great step you can take towards the removal of toxins from your body. This is especially effective when it comes to your diet. There used in pretty much everything and can even be found in the food we eat at restaurants. Fortunately, one of the solutions for both of these issues is one in the same. By eating out less and cooking more with fresh, whole food ingredients, we can reduce our waistlines and our exposure to phthalates in food simultaneously.

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