Other precautionary measures you can take include neverВ microwaving in plastic, as the extreme heat can cause the chemical to seep into your food. вЂњEating fresh fruits and vegetables in particular is a great way to avoid contact with the food packaging in the first place,вЂќ Trasande said. That may partially explain why a 2014 scientific review concluded that вЂњdairy products were the greatest source of dietary exposure to the phthalate DEHP for infants and women of reproductive age.вЂќДЄre you looking to make your home a phthalates-free zone? Experts advise that the best way to avoid phthalates is to avoid processed food. Indeed, about 710 million boxes of dry mix macaroni and cheese were sold in the U.S. The good news is that Europe has banned many phthalates used in plastics, but the bad news is that the FDA is more lenient. Among the other health issues that could the triggered by these chemicals are high blood pressure and a resistance to insulin in children. As the New York Times noted, they have also been linked to childhood behavioral problems and learning disorders. How dangerous is it? Phthalates have been found to disrupt hormones like testosterone and impact the development of the male reproductive system, sometimes leading to genital birth defects in baby boys, experts say. Leonardo Trasande, associate professor at NYU Langone Medical Center. вЂњThe findings are not surprising or inconsistent, unfortunately, with increasing literature that has documented phthalates easily getting into and staying in especially dairy products,вЂќ said Dr. вЂњAverage phthalate levels were more than four times higher in macaroni and cheese powder samples than in hard blocks and other natural cheese, in fat of products tested,вЂќ the report said. The study examined 10 commercial macaroni and cheese dry mixes, five types of processed cheese and 15 natural cheeses, including hard, shredded, string and cottage cheese varieties.

Unfortunately, as CBS reported, phthalates were detected in 29 out of 30 cheese products tested, including ten different phthalates in all, with as many as six found in a single product.

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