Study Finds Thousands of Food Packaging Chemicals in Humans

The research found about 3,600 food contact chemicals (FCCs) in collected samples of blood, urine, and breast milk (there are more than 14,000 known FCCs out there, for the record). Of all the chemicals identified, 80 were labeled “high concern due to their hazardous properties,” according to the study authors, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), PFAS (also known as “forever chemicals” because they never break down), and bisphenols (see: BPA).

This study simply highlights the presence of these chemicals in humans—something we’ve known but that hasn’t been quantified in this way before. We don’t know much yet about the health implications of these FCCs. But we do know from separate, earlier research that exposure to PFAS and BPA, in particular, can pose health risks, as they’re both considered endocrine disruptors.

PFAS have been linked to an increased risk of cancer, metabolism and immune system issues, and childhood obesity , per the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences. And BPA in large amounts has been associated with high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, per the Mayo Clinic.

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Before you throw away every food container in sight, keep in mind that the long-term health implications of FCCs are still largely unknown. And there are some other key points about the study you should know. Keep reading for the full context, along with tips on reducing your exposure to these chemicals.

Food packaging isn’t the only source of these chemicals

While the study only focused on food packaging, many of the same chemicals can be found in a variety of other everyday items—including skin and hair products, household cleaners, and beauty and personal hygiene products. It’s worth noting that the researchers weren’t able to say for sure that the chemicals found in the blood, urine, and breast milk samples were from food packaging. They simply note it as one likely source of exposure.

All this to say, it can be really difficult to completely avoid chemical exposure in our day-to-day lives. While there are certain things we can do to lower our overall exposure (more on that in a minute), the real change needs to start from the top.

PFAS are banned in some products, but more regulation is needed

The study authors emphasize that the best way to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals like FCCs (including PFAS and BPA) is for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban or heavily restrict the use of these substances in everyday items. Thankfully, some work in this area has already been done.

Case in point: In February, the FDA announced that grease-proofing substances with PFAS will no longer be sold by manufacturers in products that come into contact with food. This includes things like fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, takeout paperboard containers, pet food bags, and other types of containers.

But this regulation doesn’t include other products like nonstick cookware, nor does the FDA restrict the thousands of other FCCs identified in the study. BPA, for example, is still allowed because the FDA has determined that low levels of the substance are not harmful based on current evidence.

FDA regulations may change as more evidence on FCCs’ risks come to light. In the meantime, the consensus seems to be that it’s cumulative exposure to the chemicals over your lifetime that’s more concerning than the presence of these chemicals in your blood or urine at any given time, per the study.

What you can do to reduce your exposure

Bottom line: We don’t need to panic or be super concerned about FCCs at this point in time because we don’t know for sure how they affect our bodies or health. That said, we can all take small steps to reduce the amount of FCCs like PFAS and BPA we encounter in our day-to-day. Some tips include the following:

• Use a water filter for tap water (to reduce exposure to PFAS in drinking water, per the Environmental Protection Agency)
• Avoid nonstick cookware (in favor of cast iron or other products labeled PFAS-free, such as Caraway cookware)
• Swap plastic for glass food containers
• Use wax paper instead of plastic wrap or plastic sandwich bags
• Use stainless steel water bottles instead of plastic (see: the Owala Tumbler)
• Check labels of personal hygiene and beauty products (to make sure they’re phthalate-, paraben-, and sulfate-free)
• Keep real plants in your house to help provide more oxygen and absorb toxins—a tip board-certified family medicine doctor and hormone health expert Gowri Reddy-Rocco, MD, previously shared with Well+Good
• Sweat it out: Sweating during exercise could help clear built-up levels of some of these disrupting chemicals, according to Dr. Rocco.