Study Shows Risk of Carcinogens in Food Packaging

New research into chemicals in food packaging and plastic utensils has raised concerns about their effects on human health.

Jane Muncke, director of the Food Packaging Forum in Zurich, Switzerland, stressed that there is evidence that 76 breast cancer-causing substances in food packaging and food utensils have been found in the human body . Muncke said eliminating these dangerous chemicals is an important factor in cancer prevention.

Scientists have discovered many carcinogens in food packaging. (Illustration: Getty Images).

According to the study, 40 of the chemicals found have been classified as hazardous by global regulatory agencies, but they are still allowed to be used in packaging that comes into direct contact with food. Jenny Kay from the Silent Spring Institute also emphasized that these chemicals, despite being identified as harmful to health, continue to enter the market, posing a risk to the community.

The findings call for strong action to protect consumers from potential dangers in food packaging.

Early-onset breast cancer is on the rise in women under 50, and experts say it's not just genetic. Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, former deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, said it's not just a breast cancer problem; we're seeing an increase in colon cancer in younger people, too.

In 2007, Silent Spring published a list of 216 chemicals that were known to cause mammary tumors in rodents. In January 2024, the list was updated to 921 chemicals, including 642 that are known to stimulate the production of estrogen or progesterone, two hormones known to cause breast cancer.

The discovery of multiple carcinogens in food packaging is clear evidence that consumers are being inadvertently exposed to harmful chemicals on a daily basis, said Jenny Kay, co-author of the study update published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

While regulators have a responsibility to protect the food supply, consumers can also reduce their own exposure to toxic chemicals and carcinogens by taking a few precautions, according to Silent Spring.

These include cooking safely (avoid grilling or burning foods) ; removing grease and skin from foods; choosing smaller seafood (which contains less mercury and toxins); avoiding packaging containing BPA ; favoring organic produce; and using glass and stainless steel instead of plastic.

These measures can significantly reduce exposure to hazardous chemicals in everyday life.