Phthalates (PAEs) are a group of diesters of ortho-phthalic acid, that is, dialkyl or alkyl aryl esters of 1, 2-benzenedicarboxylic acid. PAEs have been monitored in many foods, food-packaging materials, medical devices, cosmetics, and childcare equipment (Cao, 2010; Hernández-Díaz et al., 2009; Silva et al., 2017). Exposure to PAEs occurs through water, food, air, soil, and dust by intake of chemicals via ingestion, inhalation, or adsorption through the skin (Fang et al., 2016). PAEs, as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, can interfere with the action of human hormones (Nassouri et al., 2012). Din -butyl phthalate (DBP) is one type of PAEs, and it has been widely used as a solvent to retain color and scent in various consumer and personal care products, and in epoxy resins, cellulose esters, and special adhesive formulations (He et al., 2015). DBP is teratogenic in animals (Giribabu & Reddy, 2017; Silva et al., 2004). Bornehag et al. (2004) and Colón et al. (2000) demonstrated a relation between premature breast development, asthma, and allergic symptoms and DBP in children. Due to its toxicity, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has specified the tolerable daily intake of DBP as 0.01 mg/kg body weight/day and China permits the maximum residue of DBP as 0.3 mg/kg in food and food additives. Therefore, DBP is a contaminant of major concern in the food industry, and there is an urgent need to establish an efficient method for its removal. However, biological removal of DBP in food, human, or other environments and its related mechanisms have not been reported. Lactic acid bacteria (LABs) are a group of bacteria that can ferment lactose to lactate. Some strains of LABs have potential to reduce the risk of carcinogenic compounds and play a role in promoting health for humans (Clements & Carding, 2018; Sanders et al., 2014; Gibson et al., 2010). Some strains of LABs can lower genotoxicity and carcinogenic toxicity of heterocyclic aromatic amines via various components which can bind and remove these amines (Schwab et al., 2000). For example, Enterococcus faecium M74 and EF031 can bind aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1) and patulin (Topcu et al., 2010). Zhu et al. (2017) reported that bisphenol A can be removed from