It’s the kind of everyday habit most people don’t think twice about. You grab a receipt after buying groceries, glance at it, maybe crumple it up or tuck it into a bag, and move on. It’s quick and easy to overlook.
But a recent conversation is putting that small moment under a different lens, raising questions about whether something so common could be worth a second thought.
Dr. Rhonda Patrick, a researcher known for her work on nutrition, aging, and disease prevention, is sparking conversation after a recent podcast appearance where she made a simple recommendation: avoid handling paper receipts.
Speaking on The Diary of a CEO, she pointed to something most people don’t think twice about during everyday errands.
What she said on the podcast
During the interview, Dr. Patrick held up a receipt briefly to illustrate her point.
“Receipts are covered with BPA,” she said, explaining that the chemical is part of how thermal paper works. Unlike standard paper, thermal receipts use a coating that reacts to heat to print text.
She added that people who regularly handle receipts, especially cashiers, tend to show higher levels of BPA exposure. "Receipts are covered with BPA. Literally just covered."
One detail that stood out in the conversation was her warning about using hand sanitizer and lotions and then touching receipts afterward. According to Dr. Patrick, these products increase the amount of BPA absorbed through the skin, making exposure significantly higher than it otherwise would be.
Simple ways to reduce exposure
Dr. Patrick’s advice focused on practical changes rather than alarm.
One of the easiest steps is to opt for digital receipts whenever possible. Many stores now offer email or text options, eliminating the need to handle paper altogether.
For those who cannot avoid contact, such as workers in customer-facing roles, she suggested using protective barriers.
Nitrile gloves, she explained, can help prevent BPA from transferring to the skin. They act as an effective barrier during repeated handling.
She also noted that not all gloves offer the same level of protection. Latex gloves, for example, do not provide the same barrier against BPA exposure.
Why this is getting attention
The claim taps into a broader concern about everyday chemical exposure. BPA, or bisphenol A, is an industrial chemical used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1950s. The health effects of BPA have been the subject of prolonged public and scientific debate.
BPA is a xenoestrogen, exhibiting hormone-like properties that mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. Although the effect is very weak, the pervasiveness of BPA-containing materials raises concerns, as exposure is effectively lifelong.
Online reactions have been mixed
Some people say the advice makes sense, while others see it as another example of health warnings that may sound alarming but don’t always reflect real-world risk for most people. Many are skeptical about how much occasional contact actually matters.
One person said, "Is there anything that is not harming us right now? I just feel like giving up." Another person noted, "She picked up the receipt four times in 90 seconds after telling everyone do not touch receipts."
Some deflected with sarcasm and humor, saying, "I used to chew on receipts for some reason." This person wrote, "Every cashier needs to join a class action lawsuit."
Overall, the tone leans less toward panic and more toward curiosity mixed with doubt.
What mainstream health sources say
The topic of BPA in receipts has been covered by several U.S. health and environmental organizations, though often with more measured language. Their guidance tends to focus on overall exposure levels rather than singling out receipts as a major standalone risk for most people.
According to the FDA, the current approved uses of BPA in food-related materials are considered safe at low levels, based on available evidence.
A study in the National Library of Medicine also found that handling receipts after using hand sanitizer can increase BPA absorption, which aligns with part of Dr. Patrick’s claim.
Where that leaves the conversation
What makes this topic stick is how ordinary it feels. Receipts are part of daily life, rarely questioned, and easy to overlook.
Dr. Patrick’s comments don’t necessarily introduce a new risk, but they draw attention to a specific, tangible source of exposure that people can choose to avoid.
At the same time, guidance hasn’t framed or alerted people to receipt handling as something they need to worry about on their own.
That gap between a strong, clear warning and more measured public health messaging is where most of the discussion is happening.
The takeaway
For now, the advice lands somewhere in the middle. There’s evidence that receipts can transfer BPA and that repeated exposure may matter, especially for certain jobs. But for everyday shoppers, the risk is less clearly defined.
Whether this becomes a habit people change, or just another health tip that comes and goes, may depend on how individuals weigh convenience against caution.
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