Chemicals · Phthalates (plastic softeners)
DBP (di-n-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: 100 µg per kg of body weight. That is about 1,500 µg a day for a 33-lb toddler and 7,000 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 DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate)
FDA's Total Diet Study does not report DBP (di-n-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| RXBAR 12g Protein Bar Strawberry | 120 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| RXBAR 10g Protein Bar Blueberry Cashew Butter | 72 ppb | 5 of 5 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier Electrolyte Drink Mix Strawberry | 50 ppb | 3 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Nestle Nescafe Instant Coffee Powder | 47 ppb | 2 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Subway Chocolate Chip Cookie | 46 ppb | 3 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Powder Chocolate & Cocoa | 37.5 ppb | 2 of 2 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Cheerios 100% Whole Grain Oats Cereal | 37 ppb | 5 of 5 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Enfamil Neuro Pro 587g Infant Formula (Can) | 34 ppb | 3 of 5 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| RXBAR 12g Protein Bar Blueberry | 33 ppb | 3 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Dominos Ultimate Pepperoni Pizza | 32 ppb | 3 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 215 ppb, highest 223 · PlasticList
- Thorne Basic Prenatal Dietary Supplementmedian 73 ppb, highest 108 · PlasticList
- Sunwarrior Active Creatine Monohydrate Unflavoredmedian 34.1 ppb, highest 42 · PlasticList
- Nature Made Prenatal Folic Acid + DHA Supplementmedian 27.3 ppb, highest 61 · PlasticList
- Thorne Prenatal DHA Dietary Supplementmedian 27 ppb, highest 167 · PlasticList
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Double Rich Chocolatemedian 11 ppb, highest 13 · PlasticList
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Chocolate Peanut Buttermedian 10.8 ppb, highest 10.8 · PlasticList
- One A Day Womens Prenatal 1 Multivitamin with DHA & Folic Acidmedian <200 ppb, highest 520 · PlasticList
- Emergen C 1000mg Vitamin C Immune Support Fizzy Drink Mix Orangemedian <20 ppb, highest 10.3 · PlasticList
Historical samples (9)
Decades-old foods, such as 1950s military rations, tested for comparison. Not on sale today.
- Cocoa Powder from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian 60,000 ppb, highest over 60,000
- Cracker from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian 60,000 ppb, highest over 60,000
- Powdered Milk from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian 6,762 ppb, highest 6,762
- Milk Chocolate from 1962 Army Rationsmedian 324 ppb, highest 324
- Ghirardelli Instant Ground Chocolate and Cocoa Powder from 1940smedian 177 ppb, highest 177
- Peanut Butter from 1962 Army Rationsmedian 139 ppb, highest 139
- Cocoa Powder from 1920smedian 99 ppb, highest 99
- Cane Sugar from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian 69 ppb, highest 69
- Tap Water with Purification Tablets from 1973 (after 30min)median <10 ppb, highest –
Levels in people
CDC measures DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate) in people across the US. Compare a test result with the US population.