What dangerous chemicals might be in fast food wrappers?

Who doesn’t like some fast food?  It is so easy to drop in any fast-food establishment and grab a bite to eat, either for a meal or for a quick snack.  But are you getting more than food at a fast-food restaurant?  Consumer Reports and others are reporting along with your food, you could be getting some dangerous chemicals found in the containers and wrappers. 

What are these dangerous chemicals?

Consumer Report testers found PFAS chemicals in many different types of fast-food packaging.  PFAS stands for “per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances “or PFAS.   These chemicals were actually invented in 1938 when Roy Plunkett found a chemical that lasts a very long time and a chemical “resistant to heat, water, oil, and corrosion”.  That is why PFAS chemicals are called “forever chemicals”, they last a long time and don’t break down.  There isn’t just one PFAS chemical, but over 9,000 different ones.

Why do Fast Food places use these chemicals?

Packaging made with PFAS may look like cardboard, but the PFAS in them help prevent leaking from oils like fried foods or salad dressing or even water in beverage cups.  

 

What are some health problems linked to PFAS?

These chemicals are a concern to CDC as noted in their article, What are the health effects of PFAS?  

  • “PFAS may impact the immune system.”  These chemicals may reduce resistance to infectious diseases. May also reduce the vaccine response in kids.
  • Increased cholesterol levels
  • Increases risks for high blood pressure or even pre-eclampsia in pregnant women.
  • May decrease infant birthweight
  • Increased risk of some cancers like kidney cancer.

What products did Consumer Reports test and what food packages had PFAS?

Consumer Reports tested food packages for organic fluorine as this chemical is found in all PFAS.  They collected and tested 118 food package materials from different restaurants and grocery chains. 

PFAS was found in many different types of packages ranging from the paper bag holding French fries to the hamburger wrapper.  PFAS are also found in molded salad bowls, and even paper plates.   They tested big chains like McDonald’s and Burger King and Trader Joe’s.  Over half of the products tested had some PFAS.  One country, Denmark, sets a limit for PFAS of 20 ppm.  California sets a limit of 20 ppm for intentionally added PFAS and beginning in January 2023, paper packaging can contain no more than 100 ppm of organic fluorine.  Of the products tested, Consumer Reports found a third had levels of organic fluorine above 20 ppm and 22 had levels above 100 ppm. 

What food packaging had 100 ppm or more?  Which had low PPM? (Adapted from Consumer Reports )

Fast – Food Restaurant

Food Wrapper

Organic Fluorine PPM

Arby’s

Bag for Cookies

457.5

Burger King

Wrapper for Whopper

249.7

 

Bag for Chicken Nuggets

165

Chick-fil-A

Wrapper for sandwich wrap

553.5

Five Guys

Wrapper for hamburger

8.0

McDonald’s

Bag for French fries

250.3

 

Bag for Chicken McNuggets

219

Panera Bread

Bag for baguette

35.7

Nathan’s Famous

Bag for sides

876.0

Remove the wrapper from foods right away.

What Fast Food establishments are phasing out PFAS?

The good news is a number of Fast-Food chains are working on eliminating PFAS in their packaging.  This includes Chipotle, Panera, Sweet Green, Cava and Whole Foods Market.  The companies note that PFAS are so widespread it will be difficult to eliminate them entirely but they are striving to eliminate intentionally added PFAS.

What can you do to cut back on PFAS in your food?

  • Buy food from those retailers who are working at cutting PFAS in their food packaging.
  • Just because something says “environmentally friendly” doesn’t mean it is PFAS free.
  • Get rid of the wrappings as soon as you can.  The longer foods sit in the wrapping the more PFAS the food can absorb.
  • Reheat any leftovers in a glass container and not the Fast-Food packaging.
  • Have your tap water tested for PFAS. If present, get a water filter.

Great that some Fast-Food establishments are phasing out PFAS in packaging.  How can you cut back on the PFAS in the foods you eat?  One way to cut back on PFAS is to eat more meals at home.  I had a student in my class that tried to eat foods as close to nature as he could.  Thus, he ate the apple, not the applesauce.  In this way he avoided a lot of packaging and focused on eating whole, fresh food.  A healthy choice.  

Sources:  Consumer Reports , Packaging , What are the health effects of PFAS?  , Consumer Reports    Image Sources:  Hamburger , sandwich   , Sides

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