Many fast food favorites have what health experts consider dangerously high levels of phthalates, toxic plastic chemicals that leech into food products. These chemicals migrate from plastic packaging, manufacturing equipment like PVC conveyor belts, plastic tubing and workers' gloves during handling. Many items on PlasticList contained thousands of nanograms of other phthalates in addition to DEHP, such as DEHT and DEHA. Unlike DEHP, DEHT has shown no evidence of reproductive toxicity in rat studies and does not appear to have the same adverse effects on reproductive organs. DEHA, used in food packaging, is metabolized differently than DEHP and is generally less potent as an endocrine disruptor.

Source: Daily Mail December 30, 2025 01:55 UTC