A recent study found that thousands of food contact chemicals from packaging materials have entered the human body, raising concerns about their health impacts, including cancer and genetic mutations.
Julia Watson reports for The Globalist.
In short:
- 3,601 food contact chemicals were detected in human urine, blood and breast milk, originating from packaging materials like plastic and metal.
- Some of these chemicals have been linked to cancer, genetic mutations and endocrine disruption, though many remain unstudied.
- Natural packaging alternatives exist, but they are currently more expensive and less commonly used.
Key quote:
“This work highlights the fact that food contact materials are not fully safe, even though they may comply with regulations.”
— Dr. Jane Muncke, co-author of the study
Why this matters:
Chemicals from food packaging are entering our bodies, posing long-term health risks. Despite regulatory compliance, many substances remain untested for safety, and alternatives, though costly, may help protect both human health and the environment.
