Junk Foods and Phthalates: Here’s What You Need to Know

Phthalates are industrial chemicals utilized in the plastic making process to make plastics softer and more flexible. They are also utilized in adhesive, rubber, inks, sealants, and protective wrapping creation. You can even find phthalates in cosmetics, skin creams, fragrances, and fast foods. Phthalates are so common place and widespread that archaeologists date items by determining their phthalate concentrations. It is despairingly referred to as ‘the everywhere chemical’. But just because phthalates are extremely prevalent, does not mean that they are actually healthy.

Note: Phthalates are responsible for that ‘new car’ smell that is so famous. When that iconic smell disappears, it is due to the phthalate concentration thinning out over time.

Are Phthalates Harmful

Phthalates are endocrine disruptors; they have the ability to interfere with your body’s hormone production and reproductive system. What’s worst is they can be active at very low doses. They are especially dangerous in terms of the development of infant boys. Phthalates are also thought to be responsible for increasing your susceptibility to weight gain by tinkering with the hormone receptors involved in running your metabolism. The chemical can also be very bad for diabetics as it can lead to insulin resistance.

How Phthalates Get Into Your Body

Believe, it or not, we eat phthalates every day. But this chemical is not an actual food additive. It is a byproduct of the plastic production process, so it contaminates your food via the packaging. Fatty foods with higher surface area are more likely to let phthalates cling to them. This makes junk food especially susceptible to picking up phthalates, and is one of the reasons why younger people are exposed more often to phthalates. The chemical on its own won’t harm you, but it will make junk food, which is already bad for you, worst.