"Unhealthy Phthalates Found In Restaurant Food" - Amy Norton
People who like to dine out may unwittingly order a side of potentially harmful chemicals, new research suggests. The study, involving more than 10,000 Americans, found that those who'd dined out the day before generally had higher urine levels of chemicals called phthalates, versus people who'd had all their meals at home. The findings suggest that old-fashioned home-cooked meals could be one way for people to reduce their intake of phthalates – which have been linked to certain health risks. Eating more home-cooked meals could help limit phthalate exposure, said Sarah Evans, instructor in environmental medicine and public health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, but people need to be mindful of the foods they choose. That's because phthalates can lurk in the processed, packaged foods sold at grocery stores, too. "The best way to reduce exposure is to eat whole, fresh foods at home as often as possible," said Dr. Sarah Evans, who was not involved in the study. "Phthalates have been shown to accumulate in high-fat foods, so limiting consumption of those items may be effective at reducing exposure."
- Sarah F. Evans, PhD, Instructor, Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
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