PlasticsInFood.org
The reference database for plastics, PFAS, and forever chemicals in the food supply.
A free, evidence-based reference

What's actually in your food.

The reference database for plastics, PFAS, and forever chemicals in the food supply.

2,884
detection records
59
chemicals tracked
112
foods analyzed
2
studies aggregated
Latest finding December 1, 2024 U.S. Food and Drug Administration

FDA Total Diet Study Dataset 13 — PFAS in 2024 U.S. Food Supply

Browse by chemical class

Four classes of synthetic chemicals dominate food-contamination research. Each links to a full encyclopedia and every food where it has been detected.

PFAS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

A class of approximately 15,000 synthetic chemicals valued for stain, water, and grease resistance. Persistent in the environment and the human body.

PFOA PFOS GenX PFHxS
30 chemicals
Microplastics
Microplastic and nanoplastic particles

Plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm, formed as larger plastics break down or shed during use. Detected across the food supply.

Polyethylene PET Polypropylene Polystyrene
11 chemicals
Phthalates
Plasticizing esters of phthalic acid

Plasticizers used to soften PVC and other plastics. Some are endocrine disruptors. Detected in 86% of U.S. food samples in 2024.

DEHP DBP DIBP BBP
15 chemicals
Bisphenols
Industrial polymer monomers

Used to manufacture polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resin can linings. Endocrine-disrupting activity well established for BPA.

BPA BPS BPF
3 chemicals

Most-studied chemicals

Chemicals that have been the focus of most regulatory and academic attention.

Microplastics (total) Total microplastics
Sum of microplastic particles measured in a sample without polymer-type breakdown. Reported by older studies and screening-level testing.
Class Microplastic
Nanoplastics Nanoplastics
Plastic particles smaller than 1 micrometer. Can cross biological membranes including the blood-brain barrier. A 2024 study found micro- and nanoplastics in human arterial plaque associated with increased cardiovascular events.
Class Microplastic
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid phased out / restricted
One of the most studied PFAS, used to manufacture Teflon and other non-stick coatings until US phase-out in 2015. Linked to kidney and testicular cancer; EPA finalized a 4 ppt drinking water limit in 2024.
Class PFAS
PFNA Perfluorononanoic acid
Long-chain PFAS used as a processing aid for fluoropolymers. EPA finalized a 10 ppt drinking water limit in 2024.
Class PFAS
HFPO-DA (GenX) Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid
Marketed as a safer PFOA replacement starting around 2009, but subsequent research found similar health concerns. EPA finalized a 10 ppt drinking water limit in 2024. Manufactured primarily by Chemours.
Class PFAS
PFBS Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid
Short-chain PFAS used as a replacement for PFOS. Found in stain repellents and firefighting foam. Subject to EPA hazard index limit in 2024.
Class PFAS

Browse by food

Foods with the most documented detections in our database.

◐ Clams 2 detections · 9 chemicals ○ Cod 0 detections · 5 chemicals ◑ Shrimp 0 detections · 3 chemicals ◒ Catfish 0 detections · 3 chemicals ◓ Salmon 0 detections · 2 chemicals ◔ Tilapia 0 detections · 2 chemicals ◕ Beef 0 detections · 1 chemicals ● Kale 0 detections · 1 chemicals

Recent research

Newest peer-reviewed studies and government testing results, summarized in plain English.

  1. Dec 1, 2024
    FDA Total Diet Study Dataset 12 — PFAS in 2024 U.S. Food Supply
    U.S. Food and Drug Administration
    United States
    Government
  2. Dec 1, 2024
    FDA Total Diet Study Dataset 13 — PFAS in 2024 U.S. Food Supply
    U.S. Food and Drug Administration
    United States
    Government

Regulation tracker

State and federal action on PFAS, phthalates, and other contaminants of concern.

Maine
LD 1503 — PFAS in products prohibition (amended)
January 1, 2030

Maine law (as amended) requiring manufacturers to report intentionally added PFAS in products and prohibiting their sale by 2030 except for currently unavoidable uses. The first US state law to addres…

California
AB 1817 — PFAS prohibition in textile articles
January 1, 2026

California law prohibiting any person from distributing, selling, or offering for sale in California any new textile article containing regulated PFAS. Covers apparel, outdoor apparel, upholstery, and…

New York
S5648 — PFAS prohibition in apparel
December 31, 2025

New York State law prohibiting the sale of any new apparel containing intentionally added PFAS. Outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions excluded until 2027.

Minnesota
"Amara's Law" — HF 2310, PFAS prohibition in consumer products
January 1, 2025

Minnesota law named for Amara Strande prohibiting intentionally added PFAS in 11 product categories: cookware, cosmetics, dental floss, fabric treatments, juvenile products, menstruation products, cle…

How this database works

What we aggregate

FDA Total Diet Study, EPA UCMR 5, peer-reviewed academic research, Consumer Reports investigations, and independent lab testing — normalized into one searchable structure.

What we don't do

We do not invent or interpret results. Every value displayed traces to its source study with full citation. We never compare values across measurement methods that aren't directly comparable.

Updated continually

New FDA datasets, EPA testing rounds, and high-profile studies are ingested within 30 days of publication. All data is publicly accessible and free to use with attribution.