Report: Plastic Chemicals 'Widespread' in Food

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Facts

  • According to a study by the non-profit advocacy group Consumer Reports, certain plastic chemicals that have been associated with a myriad of health conditions have become 'widespread' in popular food items.1
  • The group tested 85 food products sold at supermarkets and by fast food chains and found that 84 contained 'plasticizers' or phthalates, a group of chemicals used to make plastic more durable.2
  • Though none of the phthalate levels exceeded limits set by US regulators, the group is calling on the government to ban phthalates, as they have been linked to ailments including cancer and infertility, among other diseases.3
  • Consumer Reports also found traces of bisphenol A, or BPA, an industrial chemical used to make certain plastics, in 79% of food samples. However, their levels were lower than concentrations found in 2009.2
  • BPA — widely used for food packaging, including water bottles and bowls — can leach out of plastic containers into the food and negatively impact hormone receptors, such as estrogen, potentially boosting the risk of congenital disabilities.4
  • The tested foods included ready-to-eat meals, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and seafood in different types of packaging, such as cans and foils.5

Sources: 1Consumer Reports, 2Reuters, 3New York Post, 4Healthline and 5CBS.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by www.euractiv.com. Given our cumulative exposure to plastic pollution, it's essential that the Food and Drug Administration and similar agencies worldwide reassess the risks of plasticizers and bisphenols. As plastic waste proliferates farmland and infiltrates the food we eat, a ban on potentially dangerous plastic chemicals in food packaging and processing would help mitigate the effects of exposure to plastic chemicals on humans.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Agri. With plastic ubiquitous in food packaging and processing, it's difficult to avoid the chemicals altogether. Plastic packaging is critical in ensuring food safety and product quality and reducing food loss and waste. As there's no alternative to plastics, the best regulators could do is ask food manufacturers to follow existing regulatory requirements and require rigorous testing for chemicals in packaging.