Key Questions to Ask When Ordering popcorn pfas

A study found that PFAS chemicals are being used in disposable food packaging from popular fast-food chains, takeaway restaurants, and supermarkets across Europe, including in the UK.

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Disposable food packaging and tableware made of paper, board, and moulded plant fibre &#; such as fast-food bags, bakery bags, and pizza boxes &#; were purchased in six European countries (the UK, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, and the Netherlands) between May and December . The samples were sent to laboratories in Denmark and the Czech Republic for chemical analysis.

The results showed that PFAS chemicals are used to treat disposable paper bags and &#;compostable&#; tableware used by high street retailers to package bakery products, sandwiches, and french fries and to serve food. The pizza boxes purchased in the UK were found to be contaminated with PFAS chemicals. This means that they were not intentionally treated with PFAS, and suggests that the food packaging production and supply chain is contaminated with PFAS.

Read more about the study and the results here and in the report: Throwaway Packaging, Forever Chemicals: European wide survey of PFAS in disposable food packaging and tableware. Read more about the results from the UK samples here.

These results build on a study published by Scottish NGO Fidra in February . Fidra&#;s study also showed that PFAS chemicals were present in UK food packaging, including bakery bags, microwave popcorn bags and moulded plant fibre compostable takeaway boxes.

A study by IPEN and 18 IPEN member groups found PFAS in single-use food contact materials from 17 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America and the Caribbean.

These results raise some questions about PFAS and food packaging, here are some frequently asked questions:

What are PFAS?

PFAS, or per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, are a family of over 10,000 synthetic chemicals. They are also known as the &#;forever chemicals&#; because they are extremely persistent and do not break down easily in the environment.

They are used in a range of applications, including in consumer products such as food packaging, clothing and cosmetics. Before their manufacture in the late s, no PFAS were present in the environment. Now they contaminate every corner of the globe, including in remote regions such as the Arctic. They have also been found in the blood of people and wildlife worldwide.

Should I be concerned about PFAS?

The short answer: Yes.

Some PFAS can be toxic to humans and some PFAS chemicals are bioaccumulative and can build up in our bodies. A number of PFAS have been linked to serious health concerns, including certain cancers, impacts on the immune, reproductive and hormone systems, as well as reduced response to vaccinations.

Thousands of PFAS chemicals are currently in use, and many of them lack proper data about their toxicity.

What impact does PFAS have on the environment and wildlife?

PFAS are known as &#;forever chemicals&#; because of their extreme persistence in the environment. They are also extremely mobile in water. This means that once PFAS are released into the environment, they can be transported very long distances and pollute the environment for decades. PFAS have been found all around the world, including in remote areas such as the Arctic.

PFAS pose a threat to the health of wildlife. Studies have shown that chronic exposure to PFAS could affect:

• The brain, reproductive system and hormonal system of polar bears;
• The immune system and kidney and liver functions of bottlenose dolphins;
• The immune system of sea otters.

Disposable food packaging, such as bakery bags, sandwich wrappers and french fry bags, are intended to be used only once and then thrown away once the food has been consumed. So, while we may only use a bakery bag that contains PFAS for an hour while we have our lunch, the PFAS that leaches out of that bag, once it is thrown away, can remain in the environment for generations.

What products contain PFAS?

PFAS chemicals are used in a variety of products due to their ability to repel both grease and water. In addition to paper and cardboard food packaging, PFAS can be used in many other products, including:

• Non-stick cookware (such as frying pans)
• Textiles (such as waterproof outdoor clothing and equipment, carpets, and mattresses)
• Cosmetics and toiletries (such as foundation, hair conditioner, sunscreen, dental floss)
• Electronics (such as smartphones)

They are also used in other specific applications such as fire-fighting-foams, a special foam used to extinguish some fires.

Are there other chemicals in food packaging that I should be concerned about?

In Europe alone, some 8,000 chemicals can be used in food packaging and other food contact materials (such as cookware, cutlery, or pipes used in food production). Many of these chemicals have been associated with harmful impacts on our health and can pollute our environment.

In addition to PFAS, specific chemicals to be aware of include bisphenols and phthalates.

Bisphenols are a group of chemicals used in the production of plastics, including plastics food packaging. The most well-known bisphenol is BPA, a chemical often used in plastic food containers, plastic water bottles made of polycarbonate (such as those used for water coolers in offices), and the linings of food cans. BPA is an endocrine disruptor and has been linked to obesity, reproductive diseases and some cancers. Companies have started to use other bisphenols, but these chemicals also raise health concerns.

Phthalates are a group of chemicals used in some food packaging, such as plastic food wrap, to make it soft and durable. Some phthalates are endocrine disruptors and have been linked to reproductive problems.

See our webpage, &#;Food, food packaging and cooking&#; for more information on harmful chemicals in food packaging and how to avoid them.

What is the UK Government doing on PFAS?

The UK Government has identified PFAS as a priority group for action and asked the Health & Safety Executive and the Environment Agency to investigate the risks of PFAS and consider how to manage them.

But some countries have already taken action on these chemicals. Denmark has already banned PFAS from all paper and cardboard food packaging. Five EU countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark) are currently working on an EU-wide restriction proposal for all PFAS. The European Commission committed to phasing out PFAS in all non-essential uses (including food packaging) in its Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. In the US, the Food and Drug Administration is also taking action on PFAS coatings for food packaging, and individual states are also taking action,

CHEM Trust and other organisations are therefore calling on the UK Government to act now to phase out all PFAS chemicals from non-essential uses.

What are retailers doing about PFAS?

CHEM Trust contacted the UK retailers whose packaging was tested as part of the study prior to publication of the report. Two retailers responded: McDonald&#;s and Co-op.

A spokesperson from McDonald&#;s said:

&#;In January this year, we were proud to announce another step in our product stewardship journey with our commitment to remove all added fluorinated compounds from our guest packaging materials globally by . 

This builds on earlier actions including the elimination of a significant subset of PFAS in and the removal of BPA/BPS and phthalates in and , respectively. We are a business that continues to push itself and we are working hard to beat our own ambition.

All McDonald&#;s packaging materials are compliant with FDA, EU and all local regulatory bodies and we are continuously monitoring, testing and innovating on all packaging materials in partnership with our suppliers to ensure they are safe for customers and the environment.&#;

Cathryn Higgs, Head of Policy at Co-op said:

&#;Co-op is committed to designing own-brand products with quality, sustainability and health in front of mind, ensuring our packaging is created in a responsible way.  We are actively working on how to remove PFAS from the very small number of own-brand products affected.&#;

Should I avoid takeaway foods, such as cookies, pastries and sandwiches?

The study found PFAS in some paper bakery bags and wrappings that are used to package cookies, pastries, sandwiches and other baked goods. The concern here is that the PFAS could transfer from the packaging to the baked goods, exposing us to these chemicals when we eat them. PFAS chemicals can also enter the environment during the production of the packaging, and when the packaging is thrown away.

If you want to enjoy such foods, for the benefit of both your health and the environment, we recommend bringing your own reusable containers to bakeries and cafes. Glass and stainless-steel containers are good options.

Should I avoid fast food?

The study found PFAS in french fry bags and burger wrappers, and contamination of PFAS in pizza boxes and burger boxes. The concern here is that the PFAS could transfer from the packaging to the food, exposing us to these chemicals when we eat them. PFAS chemicals can also enter the environment during the production of the packaging, and when the packaging is thrown away.

Eating fast foods has been linked to an increased exposure to certain harmful chemicals such as PFAS and phthalates. A US study found that the more take-aways people ate, the more phthalates there were in their bodies. Processed foods may contain more harmful chemicals than fresh foods, as chemical additives are added during the production process.

Eating less fast food can therefore help to reduce your risk of exposure to harmful chemicals.

When cooking at home, try to avoid using non-stick pans as these can be treated with PFAS. If the pans are overheated or chipped, PFAS can leach from the non-stick coating into your food. There are alternative PFAS-free cookware available on the market, so we recommend opting for these where possible.

What should I do with &#;compostable&#; tableware made of moulded plant fibre?

The study found PFAS in tableware made from moulded plant fibre (e.g., bowls, plates and food boxes), that was purchased from retailers in several EU countries. This packaging is often advertised as biodegradable and compostable, however the fact that they are treated with non-biodegradable, highly persistent PFAS chemicals contradicts this claim.

These results build on findings from Scottish NGO Fidra&#;s study, published in , which found PFAS chemicals in moulded plant fibre tableware purchased in the UK.

Our recommendation is to not dispose of moulded plant fibre packaging compostables into compost waste bins or your home composts, as they may be heavily treated with PFAS chemicals.

Further information

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• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic, fluorinated chemicals used worldwide since the s.
• PFAS have been linked with numerous health effects, including cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, low birth weight, and decreased fertility.
• While PFAS are in food containers, Teflon, and even microwave popcorn, there are simple ways to avoid these chemicals.
• Experts advise eating at home more, avoiding nonstick cookware, and using water filters to avoid PFAS in drinking water.

A group of chemicals that can last indefinitely are still popping up in food containers, despite increasing evidence they can lead to significant health issues.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic, fluorinated chemicals used worldwide since the s, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Exposure to PFAS has been linked to increased risk of severe health issues, including cancer and thyroid issues.

Now new research finds that people who eat more fast food or often eat at restaurants tend to have higher levels of these chemicals in their bodies.

First study to find food packaging is source of exposure

PFAS have been linked with numerous health effects, including cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, low birth weight, and decreased fertility.

Because exposure is widespread in many populations, experts are becoming increasingly concerned.

&#;This is the first study to observe a link between different sources of food and PFAS exposures in the U.S. population,&#; study co-author Laurel Schaider, PhD, and environmental chemist at the Silent Spring Institute told Healthline.

&#;Our findings show that decisions about what we eat and where we eat can have measurable changes in our PFAS exposure. Our findings also suggest that food packaging can be a source of PFAS exposure, and that using alternatives to PFAS in food packaging would reduce people&#;s exposures to these chemicals,&#; she continued.

Although manufacturers have removed this compound from many U.S. consumer goods, the chemical they replaced them with, called short-chain PFAS, is suspected to be just as toxic.

A recent study, published in the Chemical Engineering Journal, says short-chain PFAS compounds are &#;more widely detected, more persistent and mobile in aquatic systems, and thus may pose more risks on the human and ecosystem health&#; than the original compounds.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 98 percent of Americans have trace amounts of PFAS in their bodies, which may take up to 9 years to metabolize.

Dining out and microwave popcorn are sources of exposure

The researchers looked at data from more than 10,000 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the CDC program that tracks health and nutritional trends in the United States.

Participants answered detailed questions about their diet, recording what they ate over the previous day, week, month, and year. They also provided blood samples that were analyzed for five of the thousands of known PFAS chemicals.

&#;We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the association between PFAS exposure and consumption of food from fast food/pizza restaurants, other restaurants, and food eaten at home, as well as microwave popcorn, based on representative sampling of the U.S. population in &#;,&#; the study authors wrote.

Four of the PFAS chemicals present in the blood samples had been previously detected in microwave popcorn bags, the researchers noted.

According to the study, PFAS are widely found in nonstick, stain-resistant, and waterproof products, including:

• carpeting
• cookware
• outdoor clothing
• food packaging

Food crops and livestock can also contain PFAS through exposure to contaminated soil and water, according the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The findings suggest people who frequently ate out or consumed microwave popcorn had significantly higher levels of PFAS.

So, how can you avoid PFAS?

The CDC states that since &#;PFAS are at low levels in some foods and in the environment (air, water, soil, etc.) completely eliminating exposure is unlikely.&#;

But this doesn&#;t mean you can&#;t take action to significantly reduce your risk for exposure.

One clear option is simply cooking and eating food at home.

Schaider and team wrote, &#;According to the 24-h recall model, every 100kcal [calories] of food per day eaten at home from non-restaurant sources was associated with decreased concentrations of all five PFASs.&#;

You can also avoid stain or water-resistant clothing or products, and stop using nonstick (Teflon) cookware, which all contain PFAS.

Contamination of water is another concern that can be addressed by using an activated carbon or reverse osmosis filter for your home&#;s drinking water.

A study published in January found women who flossed with Oral-B Glide tended to have higher levels of a type of PFAS called PFHxS (perfluorohexanesulfonic acid) in their bodies compared with those who didn&#;t.

But there are other types of floss without PFAS. Worried consumers can also use an oral irrigator to clean their teeth.

Katie Boronow, staff scientist at Silent Spring, emphasized, &#;The good news is, based on our findings, consumers can choose flosses that don&#;t contain PFAS.&#;

The bottom line

PFAS are chemical compounds associated with cancer and other health risks. New research finds that people who frequently eat at restaurants or even eat microwave popcorn have elevated levels of this substance in their blood.

While the CDC says it can be difficult to completely eliminate the risk of exposure, there are things we can do to minimize it.

Avoiding PFAS-containing products and packaging, filtering home drinking water, and eating out less can all help reduce exposure to this chemical compound.

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