How can I avoid exposure to phthalates?

You can avoid exposure to phthalates in your food by avoiding high-fat dairy products, avoiding meat/poultry and eating lots of organic produce as Alan Greene, MD, explains.

Transcript

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Choose lean cuts of meat, since phthalates hide in the fats, skinless poultry, to choose it pasture fed and organic if possible,

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and to choose it recently wrapped and preferably wrapped in paper.

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I have a few suggestions for avoiding exposure to phthalates in your food. Number one, they end up at very high levels

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often in the highest fat dairy products, things like cream and butter and ice cream. When you choose dairy, lower fat typically

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means lower phthalates. Number two, they tend to show up at pretty high levels in meat and in poultry, whether that's the plastic containers

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that their feed is stored in, or the pesticides that linger on the feed, or the wrapping in the packaging, or something that happens in the plant.

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But I have some suggestions. To me, the best bet is to choose lean cuts of meat, since phthalates hide in the fats, skinless poultry,

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to choose it pasture fed and organic if possible, and to choose it recently wrapped and preferably wrapped

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in paper. Number three, fruits and vegetables, the more fruits and vegetables in the diet, typically the lower

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the level of phthalates. And organic could be even better yet by avoiding certain pesticides. And finally number four, just be aware of plastics and food.

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Certain plastics in contact with food increase phthalate levels. So when possible, shop at a farmers market,

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shop in the produce aisle. Choose things that have the least contact with plastic along the way.