Between 18 and 23 dangerous chemicals detected in the body, resulting from the use of food packaging
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousThe European Commission has started a process to update EU laws governing chemicals in food contact materials (MOCAs). As denounced by some activists, in fact, the European regulatory framework up to now has not sufficiently protected consumers in this respect, because almost everything we eat comes into contact with these materials. And some of them are very dangerous for human health. Just think of the age-old issue of bisphenol A in pizza cartons or phthalates in disposable plastic containers.
To confirm the seriousness of the situation were the results of the analyzes conducted on 52 people from different European countries, which found between 18 and 23 dangerous chemicals in the body, all deriving from the use of disposable food packaging, in particular plastic. In particular, 17 phthalates and 11 bisphenols (including the well-known BPA) were searched through the urine test. The project is called “Plastics in the Spotlight“.
According to the results of the study, released by the environmental association Zero, the variations between countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Latvia, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal) were not significant, which indicates that daily contact with these substances occurs throughout Europe. being transversal to geography, profession and age, among other variables, we read in a press release.
The analyzes focused on evaluating the presence of chemicals that can be found in disposable food packaging, such as phthalates and bisphenols, associated by scientific studies with diseases such as cancer or cardiovascular disease, as well as having a negative impact on the reproductive and immune systems, as the association points out.
“These findings are further evidence of how the packaging and products we consume and use on a daily basis introduce foreign chemicals into our bodies, which science has shown to be potential risks to our health and the environment. There is an urgent need to reduce the use of disposable options and to rely on circular and safe materials, ”warns Susana Fonseca, head of the organization.
In March of this year, a large group of renowned scientists released a "Consensus Statement" warning about the thousands of chemicals used in food packaging and other food contact materials. This paper stressed that given the ability of many of these chemicals (many of them dangerous) to migrate from packaging and other materials to food, their continued use should be understood as a risk to human health.
Following this document, more than 230 NGOs from around the world (including ZERO) signed a document expressing their concern about this situation and calling on policy makers to take urgent action.
Also earlier this year, the European Commission undertook to propose a revision of the legislation on materials in contact with food by the end of 2022.
This process was initiated with the publication of an Initial Impact Assessment (IIA) for public consultation. According to the document, as reported by Foodnavigator, the goal is to “modernize” the EU laws on food safety to guarantee a “high level” of public health protection; reduce the presence and use of hazardous chemicals; supporting innovation and sustainability through reusable and recyclable solutions; and take into account the "latest sciences and technologies".
To consult the study click here
Fonte: Zero, FoodNavigator, European Commission
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