Nearly 200 potentially cancer-causing chemicals discovered in food packaging

By Study Finds

A new study is revealing a concerning truth about the materials that come into contact with our food: many contain chemicals that could potentially cause breast cancer. Despite regulations aimed at keeping harmful substances out of our food supply, researchers in Switzerland have found nearly 200 potential breast carcinogens are present in food packaging, processing equipment, and cookware.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Toxicology, compared a list of 921 chemicals identified as potential breast carcinogens with a database of substances known to leach from food contact materials. In total, 189 of these potential cancer-causing chemicals have been detected in food packaging and related materials.

Even more alarming, when focusing on recent studies from 2020 to 2022, the researchers found that 76 of these chemicals were actively moving from food contact materials under realistic conditions. Simply put, these potentially harmful substances are likely leaching into the food we eat every day.

The chemicals in question aren’t just limited to one type of packaging. They’ve been found in various materials, including plastics, paper and cardboard, metals, and multi-material packaging. Plastic items were the worst offenders, with 76% of the identified chemicals detected in plastic food contact items.

Some of the chemicals discovered have direct evidence of causing mammary tumors in rodents, while others are suspected carcinogens based on their ability to damage DNA or disrupt hormone systems. Notable examples include benzene, styrene, and several aromatic amines – chemicals that have been linked to cancer in numerous studies.

What’s particularly concerning is that these potentially harmful chemicals were found in food packaging from markets all over the world. From the United States and Canada to China, India, and various European countries, it seems no region is immune to this issue.

“This study is important because it shows that there is a huge opportunity for prevention of human exposure to breast cancer-causing chemicals,” says Jane Muncke, Managing Director of the Food Packaging Forum and co-author of the study, in a media release. “The potential for cancer prevention by reducing hazardous chemicals in your daily life is underexplored and deserves much more attention.”

The study’s findings highlight a significant gap in current food safety regulations. Many countries have laws specifically aimed at keeping cancer-causing chemicals out of food packaging. For instance, U.S. regulations state that no substance added to food (including those migrating from packaging) is considered safe if it causes cancer in humans or animals. Similarly, EU regulations require that food contact materials don’t transfer harmful constituents to food at levels that could endanger human health.

Despite these regulations, the presence of so many potential carcinogens in food packaging suggests that current safety measures may not be as effective as intended. The researchers argue that this situation calls for a new approach to regulating food contact materials, one that focuses more on the inherent hazardous properties of chemicals rather than just their measured levels in food.

“Our findings imply that chronic exposure of the entire population to suspected mammary carcinogens from FCMs is the norm and highlights an important, but currently underappreciated, opportunity for prevention,” the authors conclude.

Paper Summary

Methodology

The researchers used two main sources of information for their study. First, they referred to a list of 921 chemicals identified as potential breast carcinogens in a previous study. Then, they compared this list with their own database of chemicals known to migrate from food contact materials. By cross-referencing these two sources, they were able to identify which potential breast carcinogens have been found in food packaging. They also looked specifically at recent studies (2020-2022) to get a current picture of which chemicals are actively migrating from food packaging under realistic conditions.

Key Results

Out of the 921 potential breast carcinogens, 189 (21%) were found to be present in food contact materials. When looking at just the recent studies, 76 of these chemicals were detected migrating from food packaging. Plastic materials contained the most potential carcinogens (61 out of 76), followed by unspecified materials (23), paper and board (21), metals (8), and multi-materials (6). Ten of the 76 chemicals have direct evidence of causing mammary tumors in rodents.

Study Limitations

The study relies on existing databases and published research, which may not capture all chemicals present in food packaging. Additionally, the presence of a chemical in food packaging doesn’t necessarily mean it will cause cancer in humans – more research is needed to establish definitive links. The study also doesn’t quantify the levels of these chemicals in food, which is crucial for assessing actual risk.

Discussion & Takeaways

The researchers argue that current regulations based on risk assessment (which considers both hazard and exposure) may not be sufficient to protect public health. They suggest moving towards a more hazard-based approach, where chemicals with inherently dangerous properties are restricted regardless of their measured levels in food. This could prevent unforeseen exposures and risks that current risk assessment methods might miss. The study also highlights the need for international collaboration in regulating food contact materials, given the global nature of the food supply chain.

Funding & Disclosures

This study was funded by the Minerva Foundation. The Food Packaging Forum Foundation, where the researchers work, is a charitable organization funded by unconditional donations and project-related grants. The researchers declared no conflicts of interest. It’s worth noting that an AI language model (ChatGPT 4) was used for editorial assistance in preparing the manuscript.

Source: Study Finds

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