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Phthalic acid esters (phthalates, PAE) are very important contaminants of the food chain. In this paper, experimental data on the content of phthalates (di-n-butyl phthalate and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) in packaging materials for foodstuffs and in animal tissues (muscles of poultry, sub­cu­ta­neous pork fat, poultry fat, renal beef fat, and muscles of fish) are presented. In packaging materials, detected concentrations of DEHP were higher than DBP concentrations. In feedstuffs for farm animals, detected concentrations of DBP are higher than DEHP concentrations, and, correspondingly, this was detected in fat of cattle and pigs as well. Examination of phthalate content in adipose tissue of farm animals is an appropriate indicator of contamination by phthalates. A correlation was found between the phthalate content of feedstuffs and tissues of slaughtered animals. High levels of DEHP have been proved in blood bags and in blood of patients regularly treated by haemodialysis. The main prevention is thus control of the phthalate content in feedstuffs.