Are Chemicals Used In Food Packaging Harmful To Human Health?

I was browsing the internet on my phone yesterday when I received a notification on the browser I was using stating "Dangerous chemicals in food packaging". I was surprised and inquisitive as many thoughts started flowing through my head.

"Is this a joke?"

"what type of chemicals are they?"

"Are the manufacturers as wicked as that, to add poisonous chemicals for packaging food?"

"Are these chemicals invisible that we find them difficult to see?" I soliloquized.

At last, I decided to find out more information on the topic to give answers to my questions.

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Food packaging

Food packaging as its name implies is the process through which we package our food. Putting foods in packages are very important as its prevent the content from contamination to maintain it’s quality. It really helps those who find it difficult to cook and live a busy lifestyle to get a quick and fast meal. I could recall, any time I am too busy to cook, I never thought of anything other than to pay a visit to the nearby supermarket and bought some packaged food to fulfill my needs.

However, scientists have remind us to abstain ourselves from packaged food because of various dangerous chemicals (over 4000) which are being used in food packaging which is hazardous to our health over the long term.

The Top 3 Chemicals In Food packaging

1. Bisphenol-A (BPA)

BPA is a man-made industrial chemical compound and the building block of polycarbonate plastic which is used to make variety of products such as water bottle, CDs, DVDs, baby bottles, eyeglass’s lenses etc. Apart from all of the things mentioned, it is also used in the lining of food and soda cans to protect the contents from corroding the mental.

Currently, scientists have concluded that hazardous chemical such as BPA which is present in the plastic can be transferred into food or drinks which can be detrimental to our health in the long run.

In 2003/2004, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey has found that there is a high level of BPA concentration in about 93 percent of Americans ranging from six years of age and above. The BPA found was presumed to be originated from the packaging materials used in packaged foods or drinks.

2. Phthalates
These are chemicals that serve as plasticizers which is being used in producing a hard plastic material such as PVC or vinyl flexible. Phthalates is one of the few materials which is being used in manufacturing various products such as perfume and related fragrant products, detergents, insecticides, pipes, lubricants etc. There are multiple studies in the past which have proved the existence of phthalates in most of the packaged food and drinks. This is due to the fact that such material is one of the most important compound used in making the packaging materials.

A group of researchers conducted a study in 2016 in which they checked the relationship between the level of consumption of packaged food and the level of metabolites of phthalates in urine. At the end of the study, they figured out that the higher the level of consumption of packaged food the higher the level of metabolites of phthalates in urine. Metabolites of phthalates have been detected in urine and breast milk. One can be exposed to this chemical by-product that contains the hazardous chemical.

3. Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)

This is a group of chemicals which are resistant to water and oil. PFASs is one of the materials used in the production of a most consumer product which apply oil-, water- and stain-resistance. PFASs are grouped into two depending on the number of core carbon atoms they have. The two groups are:

1. Long chain: These are compounds like Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), Polytetrafluoroethylene (PFBS).

2. Short chain: This includes compounds like Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)

In 1999-2000 and 2003-2004, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted a study in which they detected some PFASs such as PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFOS in about 95% - 100% of people’s blood samples.

Other means of exposure to this substances include air, dust water, soil etc. while food has been the main source of exposure to these substances.

Harmful effects

The chemicals used in packaging materials for packaging food has been said to be harmful to our health, which with long exposure can lead to death.

BPA is said to be an endocrine disruptor that can imitate the hormones. It is said to be the most controversial substance of the last decade. BPA has higher impacts on intact and young children as it can alter their development and growth. It has been linked to several adverse effects such as:

Reproductive Disorder: Scientists of Brigham and Women’s Hospital conducted a study in 2013 and find out that too much exposure to BPA can alter egg maturation in human. After some years, a review of the study was conducted which shows that the same detrimental chemical can disrupt the endocrine functions and also erectile problems with sexual desire and ejaculation which can affect puberty, ovulation and lead to infertility.

Cancer: Scientists have figured out that the chemicals used in the packaging materials especially formaldehyde (cancer-causing chemical) and BPA have been linked to breast, prostate and other cancers in those who are exposed to the chemical in the womb. A research was conducted in 2015 and figured out that last longing effects of BPA on some organs in the body can lead to the development of cancer.

Diabetes: They can also cause type 2 diabetes. It is somehow related to the BPA capabilities to disrupt pancreatic activities.

Alteration of fetal brain development: Chemicals like BPA and tributyltin are said to affect the brain development of fetuses during gestation which can lead to negative social behavior after birth.

Health disease: Those harmful substances have also been linked to some health disease such as hypertension, heart attack etc.

How to avoid those chemicals in packaged food

We can avoid or reduce the exposure of those harmful chemicals in our food through the following ways:

Learn how to cook or make a good plan ahead to cook in order to avoid buying processed meals with chemical packaging materials

Always cultivate the habit of washing hands frequently especially before eating. These chemicals can be transferred from the air or dust to our hands.

Do not heat or freeze your food with plastic containers or remove the packaging from the food before freezing or heating.

For nursing mothers, give your infants as much as possible breast to avoid bottle feeding of chemical plastic containers.

Always check for those chemical free label.

Avoiding purchasing or storing of foods with plastic, you can check for the glass jar.

Conclusion

I think we should be concerned about the chemicals in food packaging as it can lead to death at long-term exposure. Researchers have figured out that after 3 days without eating food or drinks packaged with those chemical packaging materials, this will reduce the level and exposure to those chemicals.

^{THANKS FOR READING...}

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References

^[1]Food packaging

^[2]Chemicals of food packaging

^[3]Health effects

^[4]How to avoid chemicals in food packaging

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