Chemicals

Contaminants we report, grouped by family. Each page shows the foods FDA found highest, products with lab results, and recalls.

Metals

• LeadA metal that gets into food from soil, water and processing equipment; no safe level in children has been identified.
• CadmiumA metal that plants take up from soil; it builds up in the kidneys over years.
• MercuryIn food, mostly methylmercury in fish; food tests usually report total mercury.
• Arsenic (total)All forms of arsenic together. Most arsenic in seafood is a less toxic organic form, so a total can overstate the risk.
• Inorganic arsenicThe more toxic form of arsenic, found mainly in rice and rice products, some juices, and some well water.

Perchlorate

• PerchlorateA chemical used in rocket fuel and fireworks that also occurs naturally; it can keep the thyroid from taking up iodine. It reaches food through water, soil and fertilizer, and from some packaging and processing chemicals.

Phthalates (plastic softeners)

• DEHPThe 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.
• DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate)A phthalate, one of the chemicals that make plastic soft; they get into food from tubing, gloves, conveyor belts and packaging during processing.
• DIBP (diisobutyl phthalate)A phthalate, one of the chemicals that make plastic soft; they get into food from tubing, gloves, conveyor belts and packaging during processing.
• BBP (benzyl butyl phthalate)A phthalate, one of the chemicals that make plastic soft; they get into food from tubing, gloves, conveyor belts and packaging during processing.
• DEP (diethyl phthalate)A phthalate, one of the chemicals that make plastic soft; they get into food from tubing, gloves, conveyor belts and packaging during processing.
• DMP (dimethyl phthalate)A phthalate, one of the chemicals that make plastic soft; they get into food from tubing, gloves, conveyor belts and packaging during processing.
• DINP (diisononyl phthalate)A phthalate, one of the chemicals that make plastic soft; they get into food from tubing, gloves, conveyor belts and packaging during processing.
• DIDP (diisodecyl phthalate)A phthalate, one of the chemicals that make plastic soft; they get into food from tubing, gloves, conveyor belts and packaging during processing.
• DNOP (di-n-octyl phthalate)A phthalate, one of the chemicals that make plastic soft; they get into food from tubing, gloves, conveyor belts and packaging during processing.
• DCHP (dicyclohexyl phthalate)A phthalate, one of the chemicals that make plastic soft; they get into food from tubing, gloves, conveyor belts and packaging during processing.
• DNHP (di-n-hexyl phthalate)A phthalate, one of the chemicals that make plastic soft; they get into food from tubing, gloves, conveyor belts and packaging during processing.

Phthalate substitutes

• DEHT (DOTP)A plastic softener widely used in place of DEHP; less studied than the phthalates it replaces.
• DEHAA plastic softener used in some food wraps and films.
• DINCHA plastic softener used in place of phthalates in some food-contact plastics.
• DIDA (diisodecyl adipate)A plastic softener used in some films and tubing.

Bisphenols

• BPA (bisphenol A)A chemical in some hard plastics and can linings that can move into food.
• BPS (bisphenol S)A BPA replacement used in some plastics, can linings and receipt paper.
• BPF (bisphenol F)A BPA replacement used in some can linings and plastics.