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Sustainable food sector requires synthetic chemical solutions

Researchers from global organisations have released a study analysing the prevalence of food contaminants in food packaging and their health impacts.

A research study, published in the Nature Medicine journal, explores the health impacts of exposure to synthetic chemicals in food. The scientists identify the diverse nature of chemical contaminants found within food, which include food contact chemicals (FCCs).

Today’s understanding of food contaminants, and specifically, how they leave food packaging and enter its contents, is backed by scientific research. “There is reliable evidence for chemical transfer from food packaging and other food contact materials (FCMs), like processing equipment, kitchen and tableware, and storage containers,” says Jane Muncke, managing director and chief scientific officer at the Food Packaging Forum, a non-profit foundation.

Improving public and planetary health

Many FCCs have been discovered and are known to be hazardous. The research states that evidence points towards them playing a contributing role in non-communicable diseases. With increasing consumption habits and awareness of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which contain synthetic chemicals, there is an opportunity to develop greater, in-depth knowledge about FCCs and their detrimental health impacts.

Across the globe, countries move towards meeting the 17 goals and 169 targets of the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Sustainable Goal 2 aims to achieve Zero Hunger, Goal 3 relates to good health and wellbeing, and Goal 12 sets out to reach responsible consumption and production. However, as noted by the researchers of the Nature Medicine study: “A sustainable transition of the food system must address the health impacts of synthetic chemicals in food.”

Improving how the food sector characterises chemical food contamination could garner more industry attention and indicate the potential for food and health spheres to tackle disease prevention.

Extensive food contact chemicals knowledge base

According to the Food Packaging Forum, there is currently evidence for 2,160 chemicals, which scientists have identified as migrating from FCMs. Of these chemicals, approximately 1,400 are from plastics.

Along with colleagues from eight academic institutions, the Food Packaging Forum has developed a Migrating and Extractable Food Contact Chemicals (FCCmigex) Database to capture evidence relating to FCCs.

The database specifically measures FCCs from extracts and those migrated from FCMs and articles. To complete the database, researchers analysed 1,500 scientific studies, which examined 5,300 FCCs and over 35,000 database entries.

Scientists confirmed that exposure to these chemicals was highly probable. The reason for this was that the FCCs investigated were either in FCMs or had the potential to transfer into food under real-world conditions. Of those FCMs detected, researchers were aware of 28% previously used in food manufacturing.

Furthermore, almost two-thirds (63%) of the studies analysed were on plastics, and the researchers found 3,696 different types of chemicals.

Identified contaminants pose consumer risks

The problem with FCCs is their reported detrimental effects on human health. According to the Food Packaging Forum, bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, including diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), are among the detected chemicals frequently measured.

“For both chemicals, there is reliable data showing that exposure to them causes obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease,” Muncke says. Phthalates (like DEHP) have also been linked to male infertility and neurological effects, while BPA has been associated with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOS).

“There are around 1,222 FCCs of concern,” Muncke explains. However, although these chemicals are known to be hazardous, not all of them have been found to migrate from FCMs. Mainly because they have not been studied, she adds.

“Most of the 15,159 known FCCs lack hazard data, so it’s simply not known if they are of concern or not,” Muncke notes.

Food contact chemical use is no accident

Certain factors within the food packaging industry are also known to drive migration of FCCs, including high temperatures, non-inert materials (like plastics), fatty foods, and long storage times.

The Food Packaging Forum said it is important to stress that these FCCs are intentionally used to make FCMs. “So, the presence of hazardous chemicals that migrate from food packaging is not coincidental; they are used intentionally,” Muncke says.