Chemicals · Phthalates (plastic softeners)
DEP (diethyl 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: 800 µg per kg of body weight. That is about 12,000 µg a day for a 33-lb toddler and 56,000 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 DEP (diethyl phthalate)
FDA's Total Diet Study does not report DEP (diethyl 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subway Chocolate Chip Cookie | 200 ppb | 3 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Boudin Sourdough Bread | 21.9 ppb | 2 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Straus Organic Whole Milk European Style Plain Yogurt | 21.4 ppb | 2 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Butter Chicken - SF Indian Restaurant | 20.3 ppb | 2 of 2 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Chipotle Burrito with Red Beans Veggies Chicken and Sour Cream | 19.4 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Chicken Tikka Masala from Indian Restaurant | 19 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Gerber Baby Food Carrot Puree in Plastic | 18.3 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Whole Foods Organic Long Grain White Rice | 17 ppb | 2 of 3 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Whole Foods Boneless Beef Ribeye Steak Grass Fed | 16.8 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
| Chicken Tikka Masala from Indian Restaurant after 45 Min in Takeout Container | 15 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product PlasticList |
Supplements, medicines and remedies (9)
Mostly imported remedies tested by health departments during lead-poisoning investigations.
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Chocolate Peanut Buttermedian 13.1 ppb, highest 13.1 · PlasticList
- Nature Made Prenatal Folic Acid + DHA Supplementmedian 11 ppb, highest 29.2 · PlasticList
- One A Day Womens Prenatal 1 Multivitamin with DHA & Folic Acidmedian <200 ppb, highest 67 · PlasticList
- Thorne Basic Prenatal Dietary Supplementmedian <20 ppb, highest – · PlasticList
- Thorne Prenatal DHA Dietary Supplementmedian <20 ppb, highest – · PlasticList
- Emergen C 1000mg Vitamin C Immune Support Fizzy Drink Mix Orangemedian <20 ppb, highest – · PlasticList
- Athletic Greens AG1 Dietary Supplementmedian <10 ppb, highest – · PlasticList
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Double Rich Chocolatemedian <10 ppb, highest – · PlasticList
- Sunwarrior Active Creatine Monohydrate Unflavoredmedian <10 ppb, highest 24.6 · PlasticList
Historical samples (9)
Decades-old foods, such as 1950s military rations, tested for comparison. Not on sale today.
- Cracker from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian 21,214 ppb, highest 57,652
- Cocoa Powder from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian 12,211 ppb, highest 20,398
- Powdered Milk from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian 7,117 ppb, highest 7,117
- Ghirardelli Instant Ground Chocolate and Cocoa Powder from 1940smedian 310 ppb, highest 310
- Cocoa Powder from 1920smedian 135 ppb, highest 135
- Milk Chocolate from 1962 Army Rationsmedian 20 ppb, highest 20
- Tap Water with Purification Tablets from 1973 (after 30min)median <10 ppb, highest –
- Cane Sugar from 1952 Korean War Rationsmedian <10 ppb, highest –
- Peanut Butter from 1962 Army Rationsmedian <10 ppb, highest –
Levels in people
CDC measures DEP (diethyl phthalate) in people across the US. Compare a test result with the US population.