A peer-reviewed study has identified more than 3,600 chemicals—approved for use in food production processes—in human samples.
These chemicals have been detected in blood, hair, and breast milk, including well-known toxic compounds like PFAS, bisphenols, metals, phthalates, and volatile organic compounds, which are linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and other severe health issues.
Among the identified compounds are metals and PFAS—chemicals associated with significant health risks. These findings underscore the need for closer examination and heightened awareness of potential exposure sources.
Additionally, many detected substances lack comprehensive toxicological profiles, including synthetic antioxidants used as preservatives and oligomers for stabilizing ink on packaging. These research findings emphasize a need for increased scrutiny of chemicals in contact with food.
Birgit Geueke, a co-author of the study with the Food Packaging Forum, expressed concern over findings that link hazardous chemicals migrating from packaging into food, thus contributing to human exposure. The study examined approximately 14,000 chemicals approved for food contact and reviewed scientific literature and databases for evidence of human accumulation. While food packaging is not the only source of exposure, it remains a significant factor.
Plastic was identified as one of the primary culprits, containing thousands of largely unregulated chemicals. Silicone and metal can coatings may also harbor toxic or understudied compounds, and many paper and cardboard products, treated with PFAS until recently, often include a plastic layer. Conditions such as higher temperatures, food fat content, acidity, and the packaging-to-product ratio can further increase chemical leaching.
In the US, many chemicals receive approval with minimal evaluation under the FDA’s “generally regarded as safe” rule, which does not require reassessment of chemicals based on newer science after initial approval. This regulatory gap has delayed scrutiny or removal of chemicals like PFAS and titanium dioxide, which persisted on the market for decades. While the European Union has adopted stricter regulations for some chemicals, such as PFAS, Geueke notes “there is still a lot of room for improvement.”
For safer options, glass jars are recommended, as they typically contain fewer chemicals. Some researchers even bring their own glass containers to restaurants to avoid plastic packaging for leftovers. Transferring food from store-bought plastic or takeout containers to glass jars at home can reduce chemical exposure time. However, complete avoidance remains challenging, with Geueke underscoring that stronger regulations are the most effective long-term solution.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-024-00718-2
Abstract
Background
Over 1800 food contact chemicals (FCCs) are known to migrate from food contact articles used to store, process, package, and serve foodstuffs. Many of these FCCs have hazard properties of concern, and still others have never been tested for toxicity. Humans are known to be exposed to FCCs via foods, but the full extent of human exposure to all FCCs is unknown.
Objective
To close this important knowledge gap, we conducted a systematic overview of FCCs that have been monitored and detected in human biomonitoring studies according to a previously published protocol.
Methods
We first compared the more than 14,000 known FCCs to five biomonitoring programs and three metabolome/exposome databases. In a second step, we prioritized FCCs that have been frequently detected in food contact materials and systematically mapped the available evidence for their presence in humans.
Results
For 25% of the known FCCs (3601), we found evidence for their presence in humans. This includes 194 FCCs from human biomonitoring programs, with 80 of these having hazard properties of high concern. Of the 3528 FCCs included in metabolome/exposome databases, most are from the Blood Exposome Database. We found evidence for the presence in humans for 63 of the 175 prioritized FCCs included in the systematic evidence map, and 59 of the prioritized FCCs lack hazard data.
