Chemicals · Phthalates (plastic softeners)
BBP (benzyl butyl phthalate) in food
A phthalate, one of the chemicals that make plastic soft; they get into food from tubing, gloves, conveyor belts and packaging during processing. FDA background
What's a lot?
EPA's daily reference dose: 200 µg per kg of body weight. That is about 3,000 µg a day for a 33-lb toddler and 14,000 µg for a 154-lb adult. EPA's estimate of a daily amount unlikely to cause harm over a lifetime, with safety margins built in. Source
ppb means micrograms per kilogram of food: 100 ppb is 100 µg in 2.2 lb of food. A daily limit is about long-run averages; one high day is not the same as eating it every day.
Foods highest in BBP (benzyl butyl phthalate)
FDA's Total Diet Study does not report BBP (benzyl butyl phthalate).
Foods with lab results
198 named foods have published results; the 10 highest are below. Each links to the full record.
| Product | Median | Found in | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nestle Nescafe Instant Coffee Powder | <100 ppb | 1 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Raw Cow Milk from Farm in Glass | not found | 0 of 2 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier Electrolyte Drink Mix Strawberry | <10 ppb | 1 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Enfamil Neuro Pro 587g Infant Formula (Tub) | not found | 0 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Costco Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken | not found | 0 of 2 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Clover Whole Milk in Whole Gallon Jug | not found | 0 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Fiji Natural Artesian Water | not found | 0 of 5 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Unfiltered Tap Water - Y Combinator (30sec after start) | not found | 0 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Unfiltered Tap Water - Fort Mason (30sec after start) | not found | 0 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Unfiltered Tap Water - Hayes Valley (30sec after start) | not found | 0 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
Supplements, medicines and remedies (9)
Mostly imported remedies tested by health departments during lead-poisoning investigations.
- Athletic Greens AG1 Dietary Supplementmedian 5.6 ppb, highest 5.7 · PlasticList
- Nature Made Prenatal Folic Acid + DHA Supplementmedian <500 ppb, highest – · PlasticList
- One A Day Womens Prenatal 1 Multivitamin with DHA & Folic Acidmedian <200 ppb, highest – · PlasticList
- Thorne Prenatal DHA Dietary Supplementmedian <100 ppb, highest – · PlasticList
- Thorne Basic Prenatal Dietary Supplementmedian <10 ppb, highest – · PlasticList
- Emergen C 1000mg Vitamin C Immune Support Fizzy Drink Mix Orangemedian <10 ppb, highest – · PlasticList
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Double Rich Chocolatemedian <5 ppb, highest – · PlasticList
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Chocolate Peanut Buttermedian <5 ppb, highest – · PlasticList
- Sunwarrior Active Creatine Monohydrate Unflavoredmedian <5 ppb, highest – · PlasticList
Historical samples (9)
Decades-old foods, such as 1950s military rations, tested for comparison. Not on sale today.
- Peanut Butter from 1962 Army Rationsmedian 15 ppb, highest 15
- Ghirardelli Instant Ground Chocolate and Cocoa Powder from 1940smedian 12 ppb, highest 12
- Cracker from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian <100 ppb, highest –
- Cocoa Powder from 1920smedian <20 ppb, highest –
- Tap Water with Purification Tablets from 1973 (after 30min)median <5 ppb, highest –
- Powdered Milk from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian <5 ppb, highest –
- Cocoa Powder from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian <5 ppb, highest 19
- Cane Sugar from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian <5 ppb, highest –
- Milk Chocolate from 1962 Army Rationsmedian <5 ppb, highest –
Levels in people
CDC measures BBP (benzyl butyl phthalate) in people across the US. Compare a test result with the US population.