Thousands of Food-Packaging Chemicals Lack Safety Data

The notion of “safety” in food packaging has become increasingly oxymoronic. We’re led to believe that the clear plastic wrapping around our cheese or the waxed carton containing milk is inert, even safe. But a growing body of research suggests that many of these materials leach chemicals into the products they house.

A recent study proposes grouping similar chemicals together, rather than tackling each one individually. This strategy, described by chemist Helene Weisinger as “chemical whack-a-mole,” acknowledges that when one chemical is demonized, its replacement may not be safer – in fact, it might be just as problematic.

The Chemicals Conundrum: A Lack of Transparency

Of the 350,000 chemicals put on global markets, many have not been exhaustively tested. This reality should come as a shock to consumers. In food packaging, the situation is no better. Of approximately 15,000 chemicals used in these materials, only about 1,222 have known major health risks. The rest are largely untested and pose significant unknowns for public health.

The sheer volume of chemicals in use today overwhelms regulatory systems. It would take hundreds, if not thousands, of years to test all these substances at current rates. Regulatory bodies are exploring alternative approaches, including grouping similar chemicals together to facilitate regulation and assessment.

Regulatory Challenges: A System Under Strain

Experts like Olwenn Martin, an associate professor in health and environment at University College London, advocate for this approach by examining the structural relationships between chemicals. Researchers can identify groups that should be assessed and regulated en masse, helping avoid the constant cycle of banning one chemical only to see its replacement pose similar risks.

The Unintended Consequences: Chemical Substitution

Regulating chemicals can reduce people’s exposure – but it also has unintended consequences. Stricter rules have led to decreased levels of exposure to certain substances like BPA and phthalates, however this has resulted in increased exposure to alternative chemicals, many of which are just as hazardous.

The Unseen Complications: Unknown Chemicals and Contaminants

Even if grouping chemicals simplifies the regulatory process, there are still many substances that remain untested and unknown. Plastics manufacturing involves complex chemical reactions that can generate unwanted byproducts, which then leach into food and water, creating a mixture of compounds with little oversight – a situation both alarming and understudied.

A New Path Forward

The study’s proposal for grouping similar chemicals together offers a much-needed solution to this entrenched problem. By examining structural relationships between substances, researchers can identify groups that should be assessed and regulated en masse, helping avoid the constant cycle of chemical substitution.

However, we must also acknowledge the unseen complications in plastics manufacturing – the unknown chemicals and contaminants that pose significant risks to public health. To truly address these issues, we need a fundamental shift in our approach to safety in food packaging, one that prioritizes group-based regulation over individual assessment.