-Abhishek Khadka
STUDY FINDS BREAST CARCINOGENS IN FOOD PACKAGING MATERIALS
A recent study by the Food Packaging Forum has revealed the presence of 189 potential or confirmed breast carcinogens in food contact materials (FCMs) commonly found worldwide. Most of these compounds are prevalent in plastic packaging and tableware, though carcinogens were also detected in paper, cardboard, and multi-material packaging. Researchers highlight regulatory gaps that could be improved to prevent human exposure to these harmful chemicals, with the findings published in Frontiers in Toxicology.
Potential Breast Carcinogens in Packaging
The study cross-referenced more than 900 known breast carcinogens, identified by Environmental Health Perspectives, with chemicals from the Food Packaging Forum’s Database on Migrating and Extractable Food Contact Chemicals (FCCmigex) database, which tracks evidence of food contact chemicals found in migration and extraction studies of various packaging materials. Dr. Lindsey Parkinson, a lead researcher, noted the comprehensive nature of FCCmigex, which includes over 4,000 chemicals and 24,000 studies. By comparing their findings with the list of potential breast carcinogens, they confirmed 189 overlapping compounds, including 143 found in plastic materials and 89 in paper or cardboard.
Complexity in Food Packaging
“Three-quarters of the breast cancer-relevant chemicals were detected in plastic packaging, but most material groups contained some carcinogens,” said Parkinson, attributing this to the use of plastics in linings and coatings across various materials. While packaging complexity can help preserve food, it also complicates regulation, especially given the thousands of chemicals used in these materials. Even after narrowing the scope to recent studies from 2020-2022 that mirror everyday usage, the researchers still found 76 overlapping chemicals, 61 of which were from plastics. The food contact materials were sourced globally, including from Brazil, Canada, China, the United States, India, and the EU.
Regulatory Gaps and Recommendations
While existing regulations aim to limit human exposure to harmful chemicals, this study suggests they may fall short in preventing breast cancer risks. “The allowed tolerable daily intake for these chemicals doesn’t change often,” said Parkinson. She suggested a shift towards regulating groups of chemicals based on shared characteristics, which could streamline efforts to address health risks more effectively.
