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New study: who kills 356,000
Your food’s real hidden ingredient
Kos Zharoid
April 30, 2025
Did you know that every eighth heart attack in people 55-64 years old may be linked... to food packaging?
The study published two days ago (April 28) in eBioMedicine (The Lancet) calculated for the first time how many lives phthalates, plasticizers that make PVC soft, take.
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Numbers that make you think.
356,000+ deaths from cardiovascular diseases per year (13% of cases in the 55-64 age group)
6.1 million lost years of life and up to $3.7 trillion in global costs
The highest-risk countries include India and Southeast Asia, where plastic use is high, but regulations are weak. The US still accounts for ~21,000 deaths.
How does this work?
DEHP (the main phthalate) disrupts PPAR-α/γ receptors, increases inflammation in blood vessels, and speeds up atherosclerosis. Fatty products stored in PVC "pull out" these molecules especially easily.
Lipophilic migration of chemical additives.
Plasticizers (phthalates, DEHA), stabilizers (BPA, BPS), and antistatic agents easily dissolve in fats.
The higher a food's fat content, the faster these molecules "pull out" from the polymer.
In a recent lab experiment, an oil-based liquid (95% ethanol) extracted 5-10 times more phthalates from food bags than a water solution at the same temperature.
Whole milk in PET bottles showed a noticeable increase in DEHP concentration after just 48 hours of storage at 39°F. However, some data indicated that the plastic concentration remained within allowable limits, but it is unclear who sets these limits for plastic in food.
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Hormonal and heart health risks.
Phthalates and BPA can affect different receptors: estrogen, androgen, and PPAR-a/y.
A 2025 meta-analysis showed a link between chronic dietary intake of phthalates and a 13% increase in cardiovascular disease deaths in people aged 55-64.
Even very small doses of BPA increase aromatase expression in fat cells and worsen insulin resistance in lab tests.
Micro- and nano-plastics in milk.
Modern optical and Raman methods find an average of 6-20 plastic particles smaller than 10 μm per liter in cow's milk. Some particles enter the animals' bloodstream even before milking.
Although we don't fully understand how these particles move through the human body, lab experiments show that particles smaller than 1 μm can pass through intestinal cells and increase inflammation through the NLRP3 inflammasome.
Taste and nutritional losses.
Fats can "pull out" low-molecular compounds from plastic while releasing their own volatile aromatic components.
This speeds up oxidative rancidity, creates off-flavors, and reduces fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and K.
Studies of butter in polypropylene containers showed an 8% reduction in vitamin A after 7 days at 42°C compared to glass containers.
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Cumulative food contamination.
Consumer Reports data (2024) showed phthalates in 79 out of 85 mass-market products; they found the highest levels in fatty stews and cheese preserves.
The more steps in the "raw materials → processing → packaging → home storage" chain, the higher the final dose
What can we do right now?
Avoid soft PVC (#3) and code #7 for food storage, especially for butter, cheese, and nuts.
Glass and stainless steel are your heart's best friends.
Check that medical equipment (IV tubes, probes) is DEHP-free - especially important for children and patients with chronic kidney failure.
Share this with friends who still heat their lunch in "harmless" plastic containers.
Plastic might be convenient, but health is priceless.
Mini-checklist: how to safely store fatty foods.
Choose glass - twist jars or bottles; glass is inert and doesn't react with fats.
Use metal for "food on the go" - lunch boxes made of food-grade stainless steel (AISI 304).
Use plastic only for short-term - maximum one day, cold storage below 4°C; only PP #5 is acceptable (it has significantly fewer plasticizers).
Never heat food in plastic - microwaves and hot dishwashers speed up the leaching of phthalates and BPA.
Remember the "dangerous codes" - #3 (PVC), #6 (PS), and #7 (PC/other) have high migration rates.
For freezing - wrap in parchment paper + foil, then use glass or metal containers.
Replace scratched containers - cracks mean more contact and more leaching.
"BPA-free" labeling doesn't mean "phthalate-free" - check the full composition with the manufacturer.
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