Tag: Styrene

Studies have shown that heating plastic #6, known as polystyrene or Styrofoam, can cause the chemical styrene to leach into food. This makes its use for hot or oily foods a significant health concern, despite its common use in takeout containers.

Styrene is a naturally occurring chemical found in trace amounts in several foods, including cinnamon, coffee beans, and strawberries. However, it is also the primary building block for polystyrene plastics used in a vast array of food packaging. Understanding both the natural and synthetic origins is key to gaining a full picture of what foods contain styrene.