You love takeaways, especially from your favorite restaurant. But did you know that the wrapping for your favorite fast food could be a cause for alarm? You might think that the first thing that you should worry about is whether your food package is right. But the truth is your worries should be not only about COVID-19 because, according to science, but chances of catching it through delivered food are also minimal.
What you should instead worry about are the wrappers of your fast food burger because they might contain toxic chemicals coating them. According to a report by environmental advocacy groups Toxic-Free Future and Mind the Store, the molded-fiber container that houses the salad veggies isn't safe either. To encourage manufacturers to stop using toxic chemicals in products, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families launched a campaign.
The report about toxic chemicals in packed foods was released recently and was titled "Packaged in Pollution: Are food chains using PFAS in packaging?," was released Thursday.
According to the tests conducted, toxic PFAS substances such as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl were found in the food packaging of Burger King’s “Whopper” in Wendy's paper bags and the MacDonald's wrappers for the "Big Mac" French fries and cookies.
"As the largest fast-food chain globally, McDonald's has a responsibility to its customers to keep them safe. These dangerous chemicals don't belong in its food packaging. “I, for one, am NOT 'lovin' it,'" said Mike Schade, Mind the Store campaign director, in a statement.
Even the so-called "environmentally friendly" molded fiber bowls and containers were not exempt from scrutiny. A good example are the ones sold by the Mediterranean culinary chain Cava, the Canadian restaurant franchise Freshii and fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen whose paper-fiber
"Ecologically friendly doesn't mean human health-friendly. Those are two different considerations," said Dr. Leonardo Trasande, chief of environmental pediatrics at NYU Langone, who was not involved in the study. "This example in the report brings that home."
Still, some burger joints put human health first. According to this same report, not all the wrapping tested for high levels of these dangerous chemicals. The paperboard cartons or clamshells for french-fries, potato tots, and fried chicken pieces sold at the abovementioned three burger chains were tested below the screening level.
Health Dangers Associated With PFAS.
There are many shreds of evidence pointing out that PFAS causes harm to the body and the environment. Therefore you should ensure you avoid PFAS at all costs. According to research, people exposed to PFAS end up having liver damage, immune disorders, cancer, and endocrine disruption. It was proven that the PFAS interferes with the body's natural hormones processes.
According to the National Institute of Environmental Sciences, PFAS cause reproductive, immune ad brain problems. PFAS chemicals cause endocrine disruptions. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals are associated with semen damage-causing prostate cancer in men. It also causes breast cancer, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and endometriosis in women.
Apart from the human body, PFAS also brings harm to the environment. When discarded, it causes contamination of drinking water. The contamination of drinking water affects both humans and animals. When we drink such water, we may fall sick, leading to deaths. Animals also end up drinking such water, thus leading to their deaths. When the PFAS chemical reaches the water bodies, it may end the marine life.
The PFAS may also cause air and food contamination. These kinds of contaminations may lead to death when we breathe in that air or eat food with PFAS chemicals. Therefore you should ensure you avoid using food wrappers with such toxic substances.
More research to find PFAS chemicals in food packaging
According to a 2017 study paper cups had no contaminations and had not detected PFAS chemicals. The researchers examined more than 400 samples of food wrappers, paperboard containers, and beverage containers. 56% of dessert and bread wrappers, 38% of sandwich and burger wrappers, and 20% of paperboard wrappers had detectable PFAS chemical levels. More than a third of the samples had PFAS levels above the acceptable one.
In 2018, research showed that two-thirds of the takeout containers made of paper had PFAS chemicals. Due to this, the grocery chains in North America became the first ones to remove PFAS containers. Other brands are slowly adjusting to change and trying to reduce PFAS chemicals in their food wrappers. The reason why it is slow going is not because of a lack of effort from non-profit organizations.
It is also not because of the lack of concern by consumers. The reason is there is no requirement by the FDA to test these products. Trasande said, “The FDA came to the market without the kind of toxicology testing and pre-market testing for safety needed.”
The customers Instrumental in stopping PFAS chemicals in food wrappers.
Birnbaum said, "It makes a difference when customers push back." He gave examples of how customers have a significant influence on what an organization sells. One example is the one involving the banning of BPA by the FDA. New mothers said they do not want BPA near their babies and refused to buy things with it. Trasande agreed that the few data published by people led to rapid change.
The publications made many organizations change the food wrappers containing PFAS chemicals. Trasande said, "We know companies take note of the consumer concerns. It is because the consumers are tired of the profit margin and market share.
Last week, the FDA announced a voluntary agreement with three paper manufacturers. They agreed to phase out PFAS chemical in food packaging materials over the next three to five years. In 2019 the FDA noted that a fourth manufacturer put an end to certain PFAS products' sales.
However, experts say that more should be done to curb the PFAS chemical in food packaging materials. Experts say people need to have enough education on the dangers of PFAS to both humans and the environment. Therefore, campaigns started coming up, educating people on PFAS chemical and its hazard.
