This is a shocking discovery.
A recent study has raised concerns about food packaging, revealing that items sold in shrink wrap, cardboard trays, or paper containers may contain nearly 200 chemicals associated with breast cancer. Published on September 24 in the journal Frontiers in Toxicology, the research identified 189 potentially hazardous chemicals commonly found in food packaging materials.
Among the identified chemicals are PFAS, bisphenols, and phthalates, which can migrate from the packaging into food, leading to human consumption of these harmful substances. Jane Muncke, managing director of the non-profit Food Packaging Forum and one of the study’s researchers, emphasized the significance of the findings, stating that reducing exposure to these cancer-causing chemicals presents a substantial opportunity for preventive health measures. She noted that the potential for cancer prevention by minimizing hazardous chemicals in daily life has not been adequately addressed.
The Food Packaging Forum has developed an extensive database detailing the chemicals present in food packaging, based on data from thousands of scientific studies. From this database, researchers pinpointed 143 chemicals linked to breast cancer in plastic packaging, with an additional 89 found in paper or cardboard materials. The study also indicated that humans are frequently exposed to at least 76 of these carcinogenic substances through their diets.
Despite existing regulations in the U.S., European Union, China, and South America aimed at restricting the use of these chemicals, many continue to be present in food packaging. Notably, around 40 of the 76 identified cancer-causing chemicals are already classified as hazardous by various international regulatory agencies, yet they are still detected in food packaging materials, highlighting the inadequacy of current protective measures.
This study follows another report from the same research group, which found that over 3,600 chemicals can leach into food during the packaging process. Among these, 79 chemicals have been linked to cancer, genetic mutations, and endocrine and reproductive disorders, as reported in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology.
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