Historical samples (decades old)
9 products, 9 with published lab results.
Typical levels
FDA's Total Diet Study has no food close enough to give a fair typical level.
How the tested products compare
Every tested product, placed by its middle sample on a log scale in ppb (each step is ten times the last). Products whose middle sample was below the lab's limit sit at the left. The line is FDA's typical level.
Each dot is one product. Hover over or tap a column for its count and, for 5 or fewer products, their names.
1 of 9 were below the lab's limit. Lowest measured: Ghirardelli Instant Ground Chocolate and Cocoa Powder from 1940s (20 ppb), Peanut Butter from 1962 Army Rations (62 ppb), Cane Sugar from 1952 Korean War Rations (140 ppb). Highest: Powdered Milk from 1952 Korean War Rations (60,000 ppb). All, lowest first
Each dot is one product. Hover over or tap a column for its count and, for 5 or fewer products, their names.
1 of 9 were below the lab's limit. Lowest measured: Cane Sugar from 1952 Korean War Rations (69 ppb), Cocoa Powder from 1920s (99 ppb), Peanut Butter from 1962 Army Rations (139 ppb). Highest: Cocoa Powder from 1952 Korean War Rations (60,000 ppb). All, lowest first
Each dot is one product. Hover over or tap a column for its count and, for 5 or fewer products, their names.
5 of 9 were below the lab's limit. Lowest measured: Cocoa Powder from 1920s (13 ppb), Cocoa Powder from 1952 Korean War Rations (40.5 ppb), Ghirardelli Instant Ground Chocolate and Cocoa Powder from 1940s (53 ppb). Highest: Cracker from 1952 Korean War Rations (73 ppb). All, lowest first
Tested products
The middle of each product's samples, in ppb (parts per billion), counting samples below the lab's limit. “<10” means it was below the lab's limit of 10; “below limit” means the lab found none and stated no limit; “–” means not tested for that chemical.
Lowest first: products below the lab's limit, then measured amounts from low to high. Highest first
| Product | DEHP | DBP | DIBP | BBP | DEP | DMP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tap Water with Purification Tablets from 1973 (after 30min) | <10 | <10 | <10 | <5 | <10 | <5 |
| Ghirardelli Instant Ground Chocolate and Cocoa Powder from 1940s | 20 | 177 | 53 | 12 | 310 | 37 |
| Peanut Butter from 1962 Army Rations | 62 | 139 | <10 | 15 | <10 | <5 |
| Cane Sugar from 1952 Korean War Rations | 140 | 69 | <10 | <5 | <10 | <5 |
| Cocoa Powder from 1920s | 210 | 99 | 13 | <20 | 135 | 14 |
| Cracker from 1952 Korean War Rations | 559 | 60,000 | 73 | <100 | 21,214 | 1,629 |
| Milk Chocolate from 1962 Army Rations | 622 | 324 | <10 | <5 | 20 | <5 |
| Cocoa Powder from 1952 Korean War Rations | 874 | 60,000 | 40.5 | <5 | 12,211 | 857 |
| Powdered Milk from 1952 Korean War Rations | 60,000 | 6,762 | <10 | <5 | 7,117 | 208 |
Phthalates (plastic softeners): DEHP: di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; DBP: di-n-butyl phthalate; DIBP: diisobutyl phthalate; BBP: benzyl butyl phthalate; DEP: diethyl phthalate; DMP: dimethyl phthalate.