Fast Food: Is the packaging as harmful as the food they contain?

It’s already a known fact that junk food can be harmful to our health. However, we should probably also be scrutinising the packaging in which our meals come in. Why? According to a study carried out by the College of Science of the University of Notre Dame in the United States and published in the American Environmental Science and Technology journal, it is suggested that the packaging of burgers and other fast foods like French fries could contain traces of fluorinated substances, often used to make waterproof clothing or coat non-stick pots and pans.

To reach this conclusion, researchers analysed approximately 400 food packaging items (e.g. pizza boxes, soda cups, greaseproof bags, burger boxes, etc) from 27 fast food chains, including McDonald’s, Burger King and Starbucks. The results revealed the presence of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in most containers.

The problem is, these toxic chemicals are in direct contact with the food you end up eating.

CANCERS, DECREASED FERTILITY, THYROID DISEASES…

“It’s a very persistent chemical. It enters the bloodstream, it stays there and accumulates. There are diseases that are correlative to it,” says Graham Peaslee, Professor of Experimental Nuclear Physics, who initiated the tests.

Various studies have already shown that the health risks associated with direct exposure to fluorite are numerous and significant. According to the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease, PFCs could be causing immune dysfunction and growth problems in children, as well as thyroid disease, decreased fertility, and even cancer.

For now, the authors of the study are calling for a ban on the use of these chemicals and, ultimately, their complete replacement.

Laura Gabrieli

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