Occurrence, Fate, and Reduction Measures of Phthalates in the Cooking Process: A Review

Phthalate esters (PAEs), which are commonly used as plasticizers in food processing and packaging, are common pollutants. Dietary intake is the primary route to human exposure to PAEs. Data show that retail packaged and cooked foods are most likely to be contaminated with PAEs, indicating that the food preparation and cooking processes may contribute to the migration and transformation of PAEs in food. In this review, we collected the latest investigations on the occurrence of PAEs in different food categories, discussed the mechanisms of the fate of PAEs during cooking, and summarized the reduction measures of PAEs in food. Foods such as water and beverages, meat, condiments, and baby foods are linked to PAE exposure. Many cooking techniques and procedures, including steaming, boiling, microwave heating, toasting, frying, and packaging, are responsible for the occurrence, migration, and transformation of PAEs in foods. The occurrence, transformation, and migration of PAEs in food are influenced by a variety of factors, including food categories, the cooking process, packaging materials, and physicochemical properties of PAEs. There are several ways to prevent or reduce PAEs in food, including the selection of safe packaging materials, proper food categories, cooking methods, and replacement of PAEs.