A recent study has uncovered that more than 3,600 chemicals used in food packaging and preparation have been detected in human bodies. Among these, around 100 chemicals are flagged as being of \"high concern\" for human health, according to lead researcher Birgit Geueke from the Food Packaging Forum Foundation in Zurich.
Some of the identified chemicals, such as Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and bisphenol A, are well-studied and are already targets of regulatory bans due to their known health risks. However, the study highlights that the health impacts of many other chemicals remain largely unknown, raising alarms about potential long-term effects.
Geueke emphasized the urgent need for further research to understand how these packaging chemicals migrate into food. The study reveals that chemicals can leach from various packaging materials, including plastic, paper, glass, and metal, as well as from other sources in the food production process like conveyor belts and kitchen utensils.
Previously, the researchers cataloged approximately 14,000 food contact chemicals (FCCs) capable of migrating into food. This extensive presence of FCCs in the human body underscores the importance of evaluating the safety of everyday food packaging and preparation materials to safeguard public health.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
