Why reheating food in its packaging could cost you your life

To all the people hoarding those black (or white, or clear) microwave friendly, reusable takeout containers: don’t. A study published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology has found thousands of food packaging chemicals in the human body. No, not just in our hair and nails, but in our blood, urine, breast milk and even placenta.Researchers found traces of 3,601 of these food contact chemicals (FCCs) in the body, which account for a whopping 25% of all FCCs known to man. While some of these chemicals are well-known — such as bisphenol A (BPA) and several phthalates — and their effects on the body studied, scientists are yet to find out what havoc a large majority of them might be wrecking on us. Simply washing or cooking the food might not be enough to get rid of them.“While the specific health impacts of these chemicals are not fully understood, their structural similarities to known endocrine disruptors and toxicants raise serious concerns about their safety,” says Dr Kanikka Malhotra, a consultant dietician at HealthPresso. “More research is needed to evaluate their potential health risks and ensure adequate regulatory oversight to protect public health,” she adds.What are FCCs?These are chemicals that can enter our food through packaging materials like plastic, glass, metal, utensils, and even the conveyor belts and other machinery used while processing food. “FCCs migrate into foodstuffs and are then ingested,” says the study. “This process of chemical migration causes chronic human exposure to chemicals and can lead to adverse health effects,” says the Food Packaging Forum Foundation, a Zurich-based NGO. Even though more than 3,000 FCCs were detected in the human body, the effects of the exposure has largely focused on a few dozen chemicals of concern, such as bisphenols, PFAS, phthalates, mineral oil hydrocarbons, and heavy metals, it adds. “A lot of these chemicals are harmful to human health — particularly those that interfere with hormones, which can have all sorts of negative effects, especially on a developing foetus or young children during important stages of their development,” explains Dr Malhotra. medium113862093In fact, thousands of FCCs are intentionally added during the manufacture of food contact materials and articles, and even more FCCs may be present in the final articles, adds the foundation. “This justifies the importance of better understanding their hazards, use in products, and exposure to people.”This transfer of chemicals from food contact materials and articles into food is known as migration, says Dr Deepti Khatuja, Chief Clinical Nutritionist at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon. “Migration is affected by temperature, storage time, the chemistry of both the food contact article and food, the thickness of the food contact layer, and the packaging size,” she adds. Surprisingly, smaller packaging is actually responsible for higher migration because of the increased surface-area-to-volume ratio, says Dr Khatuja.The lead study author Birgit Geueke did, however, mention that this study could not show that all these chemicals necessarily ended up in bodies from food packaging, as “other exposure sources are possible”.Concerning chemicalsSome of the chemicals found in the body are considered highly hazardous. These include bisphenol A, a hormone-disrupting chemical used to make plastics that has already been banned from baby bottles in many countries. BPA can particularly disrupt hormones like oestrogen and cause developmental issues, breast cancer and fertility disorders.“BPA is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and male sexual dysfunction,” says Dr Khatuja. “In some studies, in rodents, it was found to be associated with early sexual maturation, altered behaviour and effects on the prostate and mammary glands,” she adds. medium nocaption113862117Dr Malhotra cautions that widespread exposure to BPA is still a serious public health concern. Even though certain regions have taken regulatory action to remove the chemical from specific items; studies show that a significant percentage of the population has measurable levels of BPA in their urine.Another hormone-disrupting chemical is phthalates — used to make plastics more flexible — which are known to be toxic to reproduction, can disrupt endocrine functions, and has been linked to infertility.“These colourless, odourless liquids are used in a great many food wraps, toys and medical items like masks as well as scents, makeups,” says Dr Malhotra. “In children phthalate exposure is particularly harmful as this can lead to behavioural problems, developmental delay and early puberty.”Studies also suggest that phthalates could be tied to diseases of the immune system as well as certain types of cancers, such as breast cancer and childhood osteosarcoma, along with adult obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues, she adds. medium nocaption113862121Gueke has also warned that these chemicals can interact with each other, pointing to a single sample that had up to 30 different PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). PFAS are often known as “forever chemicals” since they are “highly stable owing to the unique carbon-fluorine bonds and do not naturally degrade,” says Dr Malhotra. These PFAS have been linked to liver damage, developmental problems, cancer, thyroid issues, and obesity, adds Dr Khatuja. But the health impacts vary by specific PFAS type, dose, and timing of exposure, says Dr Malhotra. “Given their persistence in the environment and potential for bioaccumulation in the human body, ongoing exposure to PFAS raises significant public health concerns,” she adds.The European Union is also in the process of banning PFAS from food packaging. medium nocaption113862126Where in the body?The researchers prioritised 175 FCCs based on the number of times they were detected in the body during the various stages of testing. Of these, 68 had detailed scientific studies on them. They were found in urine, serum, blood, plasma, breast milk, umbilical cords, placentas, and other organs. medium nocaption113862132What can we do?Following the release of this study, experts recommend reducing the time food spends in contact with its packaging and avoiding reheating food in the packaging it comes in. “Choose unwrapped fresh produce from local farmers markets to minimise exposure to toxic chemicals leaching from packaging and make the food you eat even safer,” says Dr Malhotra. “Use glass, stainless steel or ceramic for storage.”The study suggests that policymakers should prioritise regulating and restricting the use of hazardous FCCs in food contact materials (FCMs). This includes banning the most harmful chemicals, such as BPA, certain phthalates, and PFAS.There is a need for comprehensive safety assessments of FCCs, including those that have not been tested for toxicity. This will help identify and mitigate risks associated with these chemicals.The food industry should also adopt safer alternatives to hazardous FCCs. This includes using materials that do not leach harmful chemicals into food. Companies should be transparent about the chemicals used in their products and regularly monitor and report on the presence of FCCs in their materials.Consumers can reduce their exposure by choosing products that are labelled as BPA-free, phthalate-free, and PFAS-free. Avoid using plastics with recycling codes 3 (PVC), 6 (PS), and 7 (other), as these are more likely to contain harmful chemicals.Dr Malhotra also recommends avoiding canned goods because they can have BPA linings, and oily or fatty foods wrapped in printed paper or plastic as they may absorb unhealthy chemicals from printing inks. medium nocaption113862139Continued research is essential to identify and understand the health impacts of FCCs. This includes studying the migration of chemicals from FCMs into food and their presence in human samples. Educating the public about the risks associated with FCCs and how to avoid them can help reduce exposure. This includes providing information on safer alternatives and best practices for food storage and preparation.With inputs from The Economic TimesAI images generated by Labanya Maitra