Chemicals · Phthalates (plastic softeners)
DEHP in food
The phthalate found most often 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: 20 µg per kg of body weight. That is about 300 µg a day for a 33-lb toddler and 1,400 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 DEHP
FDA's Total Diet Study does not report DEHP.
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 | 570 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| RXBAR 10g Protein Bar Blueberry Cashew Butter | 394 ppb | 5 of 5 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| RXBAR 12g Protein Bar Blueberry | 390 ppb | 3 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Whole Foods Boneless Beef Ribeye Steak Grass Fed | 311 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Subway Chocolate Chip Cookie | 150 ppb | 3 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Ghirardelli Intense Dark 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate in Paper | 145 ppb | 2 of 2 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Whole Foods Organic Long Grain White Rice | 110 ppb | 3 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Shake Shack Cheeseburger | 105 ppb | 3 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Enfamil Neuro Pro 587g Infant Formula (Can) | 100 ppb | 5 of 5 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Ghirardelli Intense Dark 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate in Plastic | 86.5 ppb | 2 of 2 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
Supplements, medicines and remedies (9)
Mostly imported remedies tested by health departments during lead-poisoning investigations.
- One A Day Womens Prenatal 1 Multivitamin with DHA & Folic Acidmedian 8,516 ppb, highest 10,800 · PlasticList
- Nature Made Prenatal Folic Acid + DHA Supplementmedian 2,760 ppb, highest 5,623 · PlasticList
- Thorne Prenatal DHA Dietary Supplementmedian 1,759 ppb, highest 1,833 · PlasticList
- Athletic Greens AG1 Dietary Supplementmedian 552 ppb, highest 566 · PlasticList
- Emergen C 1000mg Vitamin C Immune Support Fizzy Drink Mix Orangemedian 58 ppb, highest 72.2 · PlasticList
- Thorne Basic Prenatal Dietary Supplementmedian 31 ppb, highest 44 · PlasticList
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Chocolate Peanut Buttermedian 22.2 ppb, highest 22.2 · PlasticList
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Double Rich Chocolatemedian 22 ppb, highest 23 · PlasticList
- Sunwarrior Active Creatine Monohydrate Unflavoredmedian 18.3 ppb, highest 20 · PlasticList
Historical samples (9)
Decades-old foods, such as 1950s military rations, tested for comparison. Not on sale today.
- Powdered Milk from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian 60,000 ppb, highest over 60,000
- Cocoa Powder from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian 874 ppb, highest 1,483
- Milk Chocolate from 1962 Army Rationsmedian 622 ppb, highest 622
- Cracker from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian 559 ppb, highest 4,006
- Cocoa Powder from 1920smedian 210 ppb, highest 210
- Cane Sugar from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian 140 ppb, highest 140
- Peanut Butter from 1962 Army Rationsmedian 62 ppb, highest 62
- Ghirardelli Instant Ground Chocolate and Cocoa Powder from 1940smedian 20 ppb, highest 20
- Tap Water with Purification Tablets from 1973 (after 30min)median <10 ppb, highest –
Recent FDA recalls naming DEHP
2 recalls in FDA's records name DEHP as the reason; the 5 most recent are below.
- 2013-03-27 · Wynlife Healthcare, Inc.Vegi-Fiber Plus; O Trans Fat; only 15.4 Calories; Dietary Supplement; 60 Packets; Scientific formula for Natural Vitality; 15 Vegetable and Fruit Extracts; Newest Japanese Carbohydrate Blocker: Fibersol -2; Each Packet Contains 3.5g of Water-Soluble Dietary Fiber. Manufactured for Wynlife Healthcare, Inc., San Diego, CA 92130.Wynlife healthcare is recalling their All-In-One Probiotics and Vegi-Fiber Plus products due to DEHP contaminated clouding agents. FDA record
- 2013-03-27 · Wynlife Healthcare, Inc.All-In-One Probiotics, K12-BB12-LB3; Dietary Supplement; 30 Packets;Serving size 2 Tablets (1 Packet)l L141/1. Adults take 2 to 4 tablets daily; Children: take 1 to 2 tablets daily (or as directed by your healthcare practitioner. Chew slowly or allow to dissolve in mouth. Manufactured for Wynlife Healthcare, Inc., San Diego, CA 92130.Wynlife healthcare is recalling their All-In-One Probiotics and Vegi-Fiber Plus products due to DEHP contaminated clouding agents. FDA record
Levels in people
CDC measures DEHP in people across the US. Compare a test result with the US population.