In materials in contact with food, which cover plastic, paper and cardboard content and dishes, almost 200 chemicals are hidden that can cause cancer and other diseases. And to represent a threat to health are also ecological containers (the recyclable ones or made with recycled materials), erroneously considered ‘safer’. To launch the alarm a new review of studies conducted by researchers from the Food Packaging Forum (FPF), a non -profit organization based in Zurich (Switzerland), and published on Nature Medicine. For years, experts have warned that chemical compounds used to create modern plastics can penetrate our food and potentially trigger a series of health problems, including cancer, infertility, birth defects, delays in child development, as well as an increased risk of kidney disease and type 2 diabetes.
Now the scientists of the Food Packaging Forum Foundation have highlighted how the continuous recycling of plastic, which makes the material highly concentrated, can lead to the accumulation of harmful chemicals in food packaging, which penetrate the food through simple conservation or through heating, as happens in the case of ready -made dishes. “An increasingly massive use of recycled material for plastic and paper – explained the researchers – implies that a greater amount of dangerous chemicals will end up in food products”. “In light of these results – the researchers underline – it is necessary to develop food packaging materials as soon as possible that do not present the same risk to consumers”.
The substances that can cause cancer
This revision follows a study conducted last year, which found that 85 percent of spatulas, takeaway containers and other kitchen tools made of recycled black plastic contained fireproof substances connected to numerous health problems. Other worrying substances identified by the team included perfluoroalchilic and polypluoralchylic substances (PFAS), also known as “eternal chemicals”, associated with different types of cancer, asthma, fertility problems, obesity, congenital defects, diabetes and autism. Other examples highlighted in the report are the BPA (Bisfenol A) and the phthalates, both substances used in the production of modern plastic.
Beware of black plastic tools
The researchers also highlighted the risks that derive from the use of kitchen utensils and black plastic containers. These products also contain chemicals harmful to health from recycling. To demonstrate these risks, a recent research, conducted by Megan Liu of toxic-free future, and published in the magazine Chemwhich analyzed over 200 domestic plastic objects, including ladles and spatulas for cooking, food containers and even children toys. The results found that in 85 percent of the objects examined there are flame delayers (such as the bromine), fireproof chemicals (i.e. capable of not reacting to fire) used in the electronic industry and very harmful to health.
The flame delayers, as explained by the researchers, come from the recycling process that precedes the realization of the tools, in which normal plastic is not separated from that previously treated with these compounds. Black kitchen utensils are in fact almost always recycled plastic, which derives from parts of appliances no longer used (such as the coverage of televisions).
The ultra -prompt foods rich in toxic substances
The authors also underlined that the chemicals that penetrate the foods represent a particular problem in the case of “ultra-prompt” foods (ultra-processed food or upf). Foods resulting from repeated industrial processes and which are made with dyes, sweeteners and preservatives that prolong the duration of conservation. Packaged oven and baking snacks, carbonated drinks, sugary cereals and ready -made or heated products, packed cakes and snacks, chips in envelope, etc. are included in this category. In some cases there are also ultra -reprocessive foods erroneously considered healthy, such as some breakfast cereals, fruit or cracker sweet yogurt.
“UPFs are generally pre -packaged and preserved for several weeks, months or even years in their packaging – said researchers -. Many are even heated directly in the package (for example, ready -to -consume dishes in plastic trays heated in the microwave), favoring the migration of FCC (chemicals) to food. Furthermore, the processing that leads to the creation of these foods in massive industrial processes Even expanding them to plastic materials “. “Although the impacts on the health of this type of food contamination are still little studied, the emerged data of our revision are solid enough to induce governments to act to limit their consumption,” said the main author of the relationship, Jane Muncke.
What are the safest materials
Human exposure to chemicals can be reduced by systematically abandoning the materials that are notoriously released most of the synthetic chemicals and microplastics in food. “Among these, the researchers underlined – paper and cardboard, plastic and coated metals are included”.
The safer materials are instead glass, ceramic and stainless steel that do not react with food and do not release chemicals.
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