Phthalates and bisphenols now “widespread” in common food items, silently driving the chronic disease epidemic

The chronic disease epidemic in America can be traced back to specific contaminants in the food supply. These contaminants negatively impact hormone signaling, cellular energy production, sexual development, neurodevelopment and genetic expression. Some of the most damaging contaminants in the food and water supply include various types of plasticizer chemicals. These chemicals, namely phthalates and bisphenols, are used to strengthen the durability of plastics, but they also pose a silent danger to human health.

A report from the nonprofit group Consumer Reports found these plasticizer chemicals in 84 out of 85 tested food items. These plasticizer chemicals are linked to Type-2 diabetes, infertility, immunosuppression, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, among many other chronic illnesses and conditions.

Plasticizer chemicals are silently driving the chronic disease epidemic

Consumer Reports tested 85 common food items from 11 categories that included beverages, condiments, grains, dairy, meats, canned beans, packaged fruits and vegetables, seafood, fast food, prepared meals and infant food. Of the samples tested, 79 percent contained concerning levels of bisphenols and 98 percent of the samples contained phthalates.

Both phthalates and bisphenols are endocrine disruptors. Once inside the bloodstream, these chemicals interfere with healthy hormone production, signaling and regulation. In males, phthalates directly harm sperm motility and concentration. In females, the chemicals cause early puberty, ovarian dysfunction and cancers of the reproductive system. In children, bisphenol A (BPA) damages the brain and prostate glands, while altering human behavior. In one study, the kids whose bodies could not detoxify BPA were more likely to suffer from autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Human health advocacy groups have done a great job at bringing awareness to the harmful effects of BPA over the past decade, and plastic manufacturers have increasingly moved away from using this chemical. However, plastic manufacturers use similar plasticizer substitutes (like BPS) that cause similar health problems as BPA. Consumer Reports noticed that the level of bisphenols was “notably lower” compared to lab tests for BPA taken back in 2009, so there has been progress on mitigating this chemical. However, this is just one plasticizer chemical, and there are many equally toxic substitutes and phthalates that permeate the food, beverage and cosmetic supply.