Development and Exploratory Evaluation of the Dietary Plastic Exposure Score for Mexican Populations in University...

Background: Plastic food-contact materials are increasingly recognised as a potential source of dietary exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, particularly through packaged, canned, and ultra-processed foods. However, culturally adapted tools for estimating long-term exposure-related dietary behaviours in Latin American populations remain limited. This study aimed to develop and provide a preliminary evaluation of the Dietary Plastic Exposure Score for Mexican Populations (DPES-MX), and to characterise exposure-related dietary patterns in Mexican university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 152 university students from Querétaro, Mexico. Anthropometric, lifestyle, and dietary information were collected using standardised questionnaires and a culturally adapted food frequency questionnaire. The DPES-MX incorporated dietary and food-handling practices linked to potential migration of plastic-related compounds from food-contact materials, including canned foods, packaged beverages, takeaway foods, microwave heating in plastic containers, and convenience-oriented eating behaviours. Principal component analysis (PCA) and adjusted linear regression models were applied to explore associations between dietary patterns and DPES-MX scores. Results: Men showed slightly higher DPES-MX scores than women, although differences were not statistically significant. Women were more frequently classified within the low DPES-MX score category, and female sex was independently associated with lower DPES-MX scores in adjusted models. PCA identified a dietary component characterised by alcoholic beverages, snacks, sweets, sugar-sweetened beverages, and processed foods that was positively associated with higher DPES-MX scores (β = 0.81, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The DPES-MX could serve as a culturally adapted epidemiological tool for identifying dietary and behavioural practices linked to potential exposure to plastic-related food-contact materials in Mexican populations. Convenience-oriented dietary patterns appeared to be associated with higher DPES-MX scores.