A new study released on Monday shows that over 3,000 chemicals enter the human body from food packaging materials.
The study revealed that thousands of these chemicals have shown up in the human body, such as in samples of blood, breast milk, and hair. Out of the roughly 14,000 chemicals that are known to be found in these packaging materials, approximately 25 percent infiltrate the body, and researchers from Switzerland said it's taking a toll.
Metals, volatile organic compounds, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalates, and numerous other chemicals are known to disrupt the endocrine system and induce cancer or other diseases. The link to these illnesses was not explicitly investigated in the study, which was published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. However, the researchers assert that their chemical inventory can facilitate future research on health risks.
"There are known hazardous chemicals that are known to be linked with adverse human health outcomes. And these chemicals leach out in packaging," said Jane Muncke, one of the paper's authors, who is also the chief scientific officer of the Food Packaging Forum, as reported by the Washington Post.
For many years, scientists have recognized that chemicals can leak from food packaging into the food. The number and quantity of compounds present are contingent upon the type of food and packaging.
Scientists advise against microwaving food in delivery containers due to the potential for chemicals to leach into food more rapidly at high temperatures. In addition, foods that are high in fat or acidity are more likely to acquire chemicals from their packaging. This is also true for foods that are packed into smaller containers, as the more confined the container, the more contact it has with the food inside.
While most of the chemicals leaching from food packing materials come from plastics, Muncke told the paper that "the worst one is recycled paper and cardboard."
Adding, "I know that's a hard one to stomach." She explained that these materials get contaminated with nonfood grade inks that get mixed in next to food.