More than 3,600 chemicals approved for contact with food have been found in humans in packaging, utensils, or food processing equipment. research has found, which indicates a poorly regulated exposure risk to toxic substances.
The chemicals have been found in human blood, hair or breast milk. These include compounds known to be highly toxic, such as PFAS, bisphenol, metals, phthalates and volatile organic compounds. Many are linked to cancer, hormone imbalances and other serious health problems.
But many other substances are substances for which there are very limited public toxicological profiles, such as synthetic antioxidants used as preservatives and oligomers that stabilize inks on packaging. The study authors say the knowledge gaps highlight the need for further research into chemicals that come into contact with food.
“What is certainly concerning is that we have a strong link showing that some hazardous chemicals… migrate from packaging to food, so there is a contribution to exposure from packaging,” said Birgit Geueke, co-author of the study at the Food Packaging Forum. , a Zurich-based nonprofit that advocates for stricter regulations.
The study identified approximately 14,000 chemicals approved for food contact, and checked databases and scientific literature for evidence of human accumulation on each. People are exposed to many of the chemicals in other scenarios, so the research is not intended to suggest that food packaging is solely responsible.
One of the worst offenders is plastic, a material that is largely unregulated and can contain thousands of chemicals. Silicone and coatings on metal cans can also contain toxic or little-studied compounds, Geueke said. Until recently, many paper and cardboard products were treated with PFAS and may contain a layer of plastic.
Several factors can cause chemicals to enter food more quickly, including higher temperatures, fat content and acidity. The ratio of packaging to product is also important: food in smaller containers can be much more contaminated.
Many chemicals in the US have been approved with limited supervision under US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines that are “generally regarded as safe.” ruleallowing chemicals to be used for food contact with very little agency oversight. U.S. law also does not require the FDA to consider new science after a chemical has been approved for contact with food.
That’s been a problem with chemicals like PFAS or titanium dioxide that were on the market for decades before being removed or further investigated. Although the European Union has introduced stricter rules on some chemicals, such as PFAS, “there is still a lot of room for improvement,” Geueke said.
Consumers can protect themselves by purchasing food in glass jars, which typically contain very few chemicals. Some researchers working in the field say they bring their own glass containers to restaurants in case they want to package up leftovers. Geueke said removing food from store-bought plastic containers or take-out containers and placing them in glass jars at home reduces the amount of time it takes for chemicals to come out of the packaging.
“But you can’t avoid (the chemicals) completely,” Geueke said, adding that the solution was stronger regulations.