Breast cancer-causing chemicals in food packaging

A recent study published in Frontiers in Toxicology has uncovered some pretty alarming stuff about potential breast cancer-causing chemicals in food packaging. This research, done by the Food Packaging Forum, sheds light on a big health concern that's flying under the radar for most people.

The study found a whopping 189 chemicals in food contact materials (FCMs) that might cause breast cancer. What's really worrying is that these materials are already on the market, despite laws meant to protect us from dangerous chemicals in our food packaging.

Here's the breakdown:

- 143 potential breast carcinogens in plastic FCMs

- 89 in paper or cardboard FCMs

- Other materials, except glass, also had these chemicals

When the researchers looked at the most recent studies from 2020-2022, they found evidence of 76 potential and confirmed breast carcinogens migrating from FCMs into food. Most of these (80%) came from plastic materials.

How do these chemicals, specifically PET oligomers, get into our food and drinks?

1. They ‘migrate’ from the packaging into the food or drink.

2. This migration is affected by:

   - Temperature (higher temps = more migration)

   - Fat content of the food (fatty foods attract more chemicals)

   - How long the food is in contact with the packaging

The amount that migrates varies:

- Into fatty foods at high temps: 0.02-6.45 mg/kg

- Into drinks at lower temps: 0.05-0.47 mg/kg

Scientists often use food simulants to study this, with 95% ethanol (which mimics fatty foods) showing the highest migration levels. In one study, they found oligomer levels in 95% ethanol ranging from 38.8 to 2950 μg/L.

Interestingly, recycled PET tends to let more chemicals migrate than virgin PET. The most common migrating oligomers are cyclic and linear dimers and trimers which are types oligomers that can form in polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

So, which foods are most likely to have these chemicals migrate into them?

1. Fatty foods like pizza, French fries, popcorn, and olive oil

2. Foods heated in PET containers (like microwave meals)

3. Foods stored in PET packaging for a long time

4. Beverages like soft drinks, mineral water, fruit juices, and beer (though at lower levels)

The study found these chemicals in food packaging from all over the world, including the EU, US, Canada, China, Brazil, India, and several African countries. This means people everywhere are potentially being exposed to these chemicals.

What does this mean for our health?

1. We're all likely being exposed to these chemicals regularly.

2. Current regulations aren't doing enough to protect us.

3. There's a big opportunity here for cancer prevention that we're not taking advantage of.

The researchers used a clever approach to identify these chemicals. They compared a list of potential breast carcinogens with a database of chemicals known to migrate from food packaging. This database, called FCCmigex, compiles information from thousands of scientific studies.

The study found several types of concerning chemicals, including:

- Bisphenols

- Ortho-phthalates

- Aromatic amines

- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

- Some lesser-known chemicals like synthetic phenolic antioxidants and oligomeric compounds

This research raises some big questions about how we regulate food packaging:

1. Our current testing methods might be outdated, focusing on the wrong things.

2. We need a more comprehensive approach to assessing chemical safety.

3. Even in places with strict regulations like the EU and US, there are significant gaps in enforcement and policy.

Jane Muncke, who helped lead the study, says this is a huge opportunity to prevent cancer by reducing our exposure to these chemicals in everyday life. Martin Wagner, a toxicologist not involved in the study, agrees that these findings are concerning, especially because these chemicals can act together at low concentrations.

 It's worth noting that while this study is eye-opening, it has some limitations. The data doesn't prove conclusively that all these chemicals in human samples came solely from food packaging, and the quality of data from meta-analyses can vary.

In conclusion, this study is a wake-up call. We need stronger measures to reduce these potential breast carcinogens in our everyday products, especially food packaging. It's clear we need more research, better regulations, and more public awareness about what's in our food packaging.

 As more people learn about this, there might be a push for safer alternatives and stricter rules. The food industry, regulators, and policymakers will need to step up to address these concerns and put public health first when it comes to food packaging.

Parkinson LV, Geueke B and Muncke J (2024) Potential mammary carcinogens used in food contact articles: implications for policy, enforcement, and prevention. Front. Toxicol. 6:1440331. doi: 10.3389/ftox.2024.1440331

Keywords: food packaging, food contact chemicals, breast cancer, hazard assessment, chemical safety, regulation

Link to research paper here.