Your Olive Oil and Coffee Have Endocrine Disruptors in Them
NonToxCo Research
Science & Safety Team · 4/7/2026
That bottle of olive oil and that ready-to-drink iced coffee? Both contain chemicals that mess with your hormones.
Endocrine Disruptors Found in 158 Food Samples
Researchers in Turkey tested 158 food samples across milk, dairy, beverages, and vegetable oils for two alkylphenols: 4-n-nonylphenol (4-n-NP) and 4-n-octylphenol (4-n-OP). Both are known endocrine disruptors that can migrate from packaging and the environment into your food, according to a 2026 study in Foods.
Vegetable oils had the highest contamination. Olive oil topped the list within that category. Among beverages, ready-to-drink chilled coffee had the worst levels. Even dairy wasn't clean: UHT milk and ayran (a yogurt drink) stood out.
The Packaging Makes It Worse
Plastic containers and metal cans were linked to higher levels of these chemicals, especially in oily foods. The fat in oils and dairy pulls alkylphenols right out of the packaging. Carton packaging had lower levels.
Combine high consumption with high contamination (think: daily iced coffees, energy drinks) and your exposure adds up fast.
What You Can Do
Buy olive oil in glass bottles, not plastic. Skip canned or bottled ready-to-drink coffees when you can. Choose carton-packaged dairy over plastic containers. And check out non-toxic kitchen alternatives to reduce chemical exposure from food storage and prep.
Also see glass food containers for safer alternatives.