A recent study has discovered that more than 3,600 chemicals used in food packaging or preparation have been detected in human bodies, with some known to be hazardous to health. Published on Tuesday, the research identifies approximately 100 of these chemicals as “high concern,” according to lead author Birgit Geueke from the Food Packaging Forum Foundation.
“We were surprised to find 3,601 chemicals in the biomonitoring databases,” said Geueke. Some well-known substances, such as PFAS and bisphenol A — both of which are targeted for bans — were detected, but many others remain poorly understood.
The study found that chemicals from packaging, as well as utensils and conveyor belts, can migrate into food. Researchers emphasized that while the presence of these chemicals is confirmed, the exact health impact and the extent of exposure remain unclear.
Geueke called for more research into these lesser-known chemicals and advised limiting contact time with food packaging, especially avoiding heating food in the packaging it comes in.
Duane Mellor, an evidence-based medicine expert from Aston University, praised the thoroughness of the research but cautioned that more data is needed. “People should not be unduly alarmed but should demand better data and reduce unnecessary exposure,” he said.
The European Union is already moving towards banning PFAS in food packaging, with further restrictions on bisphenol A expected by the end of the year.