Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals that resist grease, oil, water, and heat. They were first used in the 1940's and are now in hundreds of products including stain- and water-resistant fabrics and carpeting, cleaning products, paints, and fire-fighting foams.
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Independent testing of more than 100 packaging products from US restaurant and grocery chains identified PFAS chemicals in many of the wrappers, a Consumer Reports investigation has found.
The potentially dangerous “forever chemicals“were found in food packaging including paper bags for french fries, wrappers for hamburgers, molded fiber salad bowls and single-use paper plates.
They were found in the packaging from every retailer CR looked at, including fast-food chains – such as Burger King and McDonald’s – and places that promote healthier fare, such as Cava and Trader Joe’s.
CR tested multiple samples of 118 food packaging products and found evidence of PFAS in more than half of those tested, while almost a third had levels beyond a threshold supported by CR experts and others.
They are extremely persistent, remain in the environment for a considerable time, can enter the body when they come into contact with the skin, or through ingestion, and there are more than 14,000 of them. Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS), are found almost everywhere, from food packaging, cosmetics, and even in water, soil and air.
In addition, they are detected in the blood, in body tissues and are linked to health problems such as thyroid dysfunction, increased risk of cancer, and even difficulties in infant reproduction and development.
Experts are sounding the alarm as the frequent presence of the “forever chemicals” in items prevalent in everyday life may exacerbate the risks, with a new report from the Italian Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE) highlighting at least two more sources of these substances: Non-stick baking paper and microwaveable popcorn packaging.
Thanks to their durability, PFASs are proving useful in creating baking paper that can withstand high temperatures and food fats. However, experts emphasize that it should not be used at a temperature and duration that exceed the manufacturer’s indications, as “forever chemicals” can be released with possible effects on the health of the consumer.
As commented by the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Sara Valsecchi, a researcher at the Water Research Institute of the National Research Council (CNR), the traces may be small and do not present acute toxicity, but “they can affect our biological systems, for example by increasing cholesterol or causing kidney and thyroid problems and sometimes – if they accumulate in the brain – even lead to cognitive problems”.
The expert emphasizes that the issue that arises is that the manufacturer is not required to mention their presence on the label, so it is necessary for the competent authorities to speed up the process so that they are listed on the product packaging.
The report highlights a similar problem with microwave popcorn packaging, with experts clearly stating: “Of particular concern is the use of PFAS and other endocrine disruptors in food packaging, from which they can easily be released into food contained in them. Microwave popcorn bags should be avoided.”
Giuseppe Ungerese from Greenpeace Italia, speaking to the same newspaper, called on consumers to only buy baking paper that says it is free of these substances, “PFAS free”, and not to exceed the temperature specified on the package, as well as the time . Additionally, as a more “sustainable” alternative, she suggested the traditional use of butter with flour to keep the mixture from sticking when baking.
According to the report, PFASs have been detected in the tissues of polar bears and other animal species tested on all continents, while they are found in the blood of 95% of people tested on all continents, including members of the Inuit community of Greenland. In addition, as they are water soluble, they can easily migrate from the soil to the groundwater and be transported over long distances contaminating the water network.
Searching for PFAS
The first known PFAS in the US was accidentally discovered in 1938 by a 27-year-old chemist named Roy Plunkett and in the decades since it and related chemicals have been added to a wide variety of products to make them resistant to heat, water, oil and corrosion.
Today, these practically unbreakable compounds, created when the elements carbon and fluorine are fused, can be found in the air and the water, as well as in our bodies, our food, and our homes.
Identifying the exact type of PFAS in a product is complex: there are more than 9,000 known PFAS, yet common testing methods can identify only a couple dozen.
So CR tested products for their total organic fluorine content, which is considered the simplest way to assess a material’s total PFAS content. That’s because all PFAS contain organic fluorine, and there are few other sources of the compound, says Graham Peaslee, PhD, a professor of physics, chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, who has studied PFAS in food packaging.
Another complication: PFAS is used so widely – found in ink on food containers, recycled paper, machines that make packaging and more – that it often shows up in products unintentionally.
Scientists and regulators are still debating what level of organic fluorine indicates intentional use. California has banned intentionally added PFAS; starting in January 2023, paper food packaging must have less than 100 parts per million organic fluorine. Denmark has settled on 20ppm as that threshold, a limit supported by CR’s experts as well.
Certain kinds of greaseproofing “forever” chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, will no longer be used in food packaging in the US, the US Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA’s food studies have shown that food packaging materials like fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags and take-out pizza boxes were a major source of dietary exposure to certain types of PFAS, hormone-disrupting chemicals that may persist in the body and the environment.
PFAS have been linked to a variety of health effects including changes in immune and liver function, obesity, diabetes, certain cancers and lower birth weights.
