In a recent interview on Triggernometry, Dr. Rhonda Patrick made a compelling case for why takeout food may be contributing to rising autism rates.
The link centers on microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, particularly bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenols S (BPS), which leach into food from packaging.
Patrick stated: “So there have been studies with pregnant women that have the highest levels of BPA in their urine. They’re six times more likely to have a child diagnosed with autism by the age of 11 than women with the lowest levels of BPA.”
This correlation is supported by multiple studies, animal research showing similar effects in mice, and genetic data demonstrating that boys with dysfunctional aromatase enzymes face significantly higher autism risk when exposed to these chemicals.
The mechanism involves hormone disruption during critical brain development. BPA inhibits the aromatase enzyme, which is essential for producing estrogen surges that, counterintuitively, help masculinize the male brain during fetal development. When these surges don’t occur properly, brain connectivity and structure can be affected, potentially leading to autism spectrum disorder.
Takeout food presents a particularly high risk due to multiple exposure points. Patrick stated: “Like you you order takeout, you know, those like if you go to a bakery, and it’s like the tissue paper that’s all lined with forever chemicals.”
Additionally, black plastic containers, commonly used for restaurant delivery, contain brominated flame retardants at levels 30 to 40 times higher than safety standards. When hot food is placed in these containers, heat accelerates the leaching process dramatically.
Dr. Patrick explained that heating BPA increases its migration into food by 55-fold, turning what would normally take years of gradual exposure into concentrated doses within minutes.
Coffee cups present another hidden danger. Patrick explained: “And I want to get to the coffee cups because that’s one you don’t think about because it doesn’t look like plastic. It’s very tricky because they’re lined with plastic. I really want these companies like Starbucks and everyone to like start lining their cups with polyactic acid.”
She continued: “But you can get sugar cane and line them. But like, until then, bring your own mug or you know, I don’t know, stop drinking to go coffee because it’s it’s you’re talking 55 fold more BPA into your beverage than if you were drinking just water from like a plastic bottle.”
During the conversation, Patrick also talked about thermal paper receipts handed out with takeout orders. She says that they are coated with BPA, and touching them with hand sanitizer or lotion on your fingers increases absorption into the bloodstream by 100-fold.
She stated: “So receipts are, you know, the printing that’s on the receipt that is done with thermal paper and essentially… the printing on it is coated with BPA, coated with it, bisphenol, that stuff that we’re talking about now. The worst insult is ingesting it. But unfortunately, if you have any kind of cream on your fingers or like sanitizer… that causes the BPA from the receipts to go into your circulation 100 fold. ”
The paper cups themselves, lined with plastic to prevent leakage, release massive amounts of these chemicals when filled with hot beverages.
Forever chemicals known as PFAS, added to food packaging to make it grease-resistant, remain in the human body for four to five years. These compounds disrupt hormones and are now contaminating even organic, grass-fed dairy products because they’ve entered the soil and water supply that feeds livestock.
Dr. Patrick emphasized that while genetics play a role in autism, environmental factors interact with genetic vulnerabilities. Children with autism have been found to have 15 times higher BPA levels than non-autistic children, suggesting a dysfunctional excretion mechanism.
Clinical trials using sulforaphane, a compound from broccoli sprouts that helps the body eliminate BPA, have shown improvement in autism symptoms across multiple studies.
When asked why this evidence receives less attention than the acetaminophen-autism connection, Dr. Patrick acknowledged the challenge. While acetaminophen shows some correlation with ADHD and autism, particularly with chronic use during pregnancy, the evidence for plastic chemicals appears stronger across epidemiological, animal, and genetic studies.
Dr. Patrick recommended several practical steps for reducing exposure. Installing a reverse osmosis water filter removes 99% of microplastics and endocrine disruptors from drinking water.
Avoiding all heated plastic, including takeout containers and to-go coffee cups, eliminates the worst sources of exposure. Switching from plastic water bottles to glass or stainless steel containers reduces daily chemical intake. Using air filters with HEPA technology removes microplastics from indoor air, which studies show accumulate in the brain at 10 to 20 times higher concentrations than in other organs.
