Chemicals used to make packaging for food items may be harmful to our health. Four thousand known food contact materials have been recently shown to disrupt hormones in animal studies. Other animal studies have shown that chemicals such as formaldehyde, which is used to make plastic bottles, and melamine, a common adhesive used in packaging products, have been linked to causing kidney stones and certain cancers. Also, bisphenol A (BPA), used in aluminum cans and sippy cups, has been linked to obesity, asthma, kidney, and heart disease. In 2012, BPA was banned from the production of sippy cups and baby bottles. Although many claims have been made linking diseases to packaging chemicals, more evidence and research is needed to see if the chemicals are a direct source of long-term chronic illness. Some researchers such as Dr. Ian Musgrave from University of Adelaide are skeptical toward the gravity of these findings, stating that “the concern about formaldehyde from food packaging is significantly overrated…” with the reasoning that the amount ingested is miniscule. Other researchers have confirmed that the amount of chemicals from packaging may not be as damaging as processed foods they encapsulate, which contain immense levels of sugar, fat, and salt, substances known to cause a variety of chronic illnesses.
Reference:
Castillo, M. (1920, February 14). Scientists caution harmful chemicals are seeping into our food. CBSNews. Retrieved March 1, 2014, from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/scientists-caution-harmful-chemicals-in-food-packaging-are-seeping-into-our-food/
Posts
