What is more alarming than rampant reports of food adulteration and intoxication? A new study reveals that over 3,600 food packaging or preparation chemicals have been found in human bodies. Needless to say, many of these chemicals might cause harm to health, and further studies are being conducted on other chemicals to understand their potential to affect humans.
Lead study author Birgit Geueke from a Zurich-based NGO, Food Packaging Forum Foundation, stated that 100 of the thousands of chemicals contaminating human bodies are of high health concern. Even banned or potentially to-be-banned chemicals like PFAS (per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) and bisphenol A (hormone-disrupting chemical) have also seeped into human bodies.
Only further research and studies will unveil how other chemicals can affect humans and how these packaging chemicals seep inside the bodies. Scientists are claiming that these are being swallowed with food in small quantities.
Food Contact Chemicals Seeping Into Food Items
Many studies in the past have revealed that there are around 1400 food contact chemicals (FCC) which can migrate from packing to food items. Usually, they are present in packaging substances made from paper, plastic, metal, glass, and other materials. These chemicals can also exist in kitchen utensils as well as conveyor belts.
Geueke further added that the scientists were expecting to find a few hundred in human samples but were shocked when the total count reached 3601 (which is 1/4th of the total count of FCCs).
While not every chemical found in the human body can be traced back to the packaging source. There are many mediums which are exposing people to these health hazards. It was surprising to bisphenol - A. It is banned in many countries, and it was used to make baby bottles. Phthalates are also found in human bodies. They are associated with hormonal imbalances and fertility issues.
Speaking about toxicology, Geueke said, “The dose makes the poison.” The scientist recommends people reduce their contact with packaged food because they might be contaminated with a high amount of chemicals.
Duane Mellor, an expert in evidence-based medicine at the UK's Aston University and not involved in the research, demanded more data to understand how humans are getting exposed to these chemicals and how much of these are seeping into foods.