The Future of Food Packaging
Author: Theresa Nguyen
What are PFAS?
Per- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are artificial and persistent chemicals and are known as “forever chemicals.” PFAS are found in the following: non-stick cookware, food processing equipment, processing aids, and paper/paperboard food packaging (FDA, 2020). PFAS is also in food packaging items such as takeout paper containers, fast food wrappers, and microwave popcorn bags. PFAS is used for its “grease-proofing agents and is water-resistant: ”making it ideal for holding food such as hamburgers (FDA, 2020). Short-chain PFAS is less than seven carbons, and the most common PFAS in food contact materials is called 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH).
How does PFAS affect us?
Since the 1960s, PFAS has been allowed for use in food packaging. There are over 4,000 PFASs chemicals globally, and these chemicals can impose public health challenges. For instance, when these chemicals are in landfills, there is a potential for PFAS to enter the soil and groundwater, which can lead to contamination (Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition [MBCC], n.d.). Exposure to PFAS can lead to increased cholesterol levels, changes in liver enzymes, and increased risk of kidney or testicular cancer (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry [ATSDR], 2020). To learn more about the effects of PFAS, researchers have conducted studies on lab animals. They observed that PFAS caused “congenital disabilities, delayed development, and newborn deaths in lab animals” (ATSDR, 2020). While PFAS has provided properties ideal for food packaging such as food wrapping, these chemicals can migrate into food such as hamburgers or sandwiches.
Why should we care?
Marginalized communities "experience heightened risks or exposure from chemicals that may be found in food contact materials." (Gallagher, 2020)
These margainalizled communitites also "face pollution burdens like air pollution, high pesticide use, and contaminated drinking water, which correlate to health complications such as asthma and cardiovascular disease" (Reade and Lee, 2021).
The Federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry "released a statement on the intersection between PFAS exposure and COVID-19, which cites studies showing a correlation between exposure to PFAS and a suppression of the immune system's ability to make antibodies" (Gallagher, 2020).
"Disadvantaged communities struggle with socioeconomic issues such as higher levels of poverty and unemployment" (Reade and Lee, 2021).
Current status of PFAS
Photo: Critical Analyst
European Efforts
With the recent attention of PFAS in food packaging, many people have raised concerns about this issue. In Europe, authorities of Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark have joined forces to make a joint REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) restriction proposal on PFAS (European Chemicals Agency [ECHA], 2020). They started taking research information from those willing to participate, such as organizations and companies who utilize PFAS and are eager to share their information about their products. They plan to submit this restriction proposal in 2022.
Photo: U.S. Embassy
EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has continually been studying the environmental risks of PFAS in human health and conducting science-based research. They have a commitment plan outlined from 2021-2024, claiming they will consider the lifespan of PFAS, holding polluters accountable, and prioritizing protection for marginalized communities (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2021). Read more about it here.
Photo: Myeloma Beacon
FDA
The FDA has approved “20 next-generation PFCs specifically for coating paper and paper board used to serve food” (Environmental Working Group, 2017). However, these products have not undergone sufficient testing for safety. The lack of federal action has made states develop their legislation regarding the regulation of PFAS.
State legislation banning PFAS in food packaging is in Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington (Hogue, 2021). Maine was the first state to ban PFAS products by 2022 and required manufacturers to state their ingredients explicitly.
Vermont provides a comprehensive bill on their PFAS ban. Vermont’s bill requires manufacturers, suppliers, or distributors not to add PFAS to their products intentionally. If these products were to contain PFAS, they would not be allowed to sell in Vermont.
What research is available About PFAS?
Dietary Habits and PFAS Exposure
In “Dietary Habits Related to Food Packaging and Population Exposure to PFASs” by Herbert Susmann and others, they look at the association between serum PFASs and consumption of restaurant food and popcorn. The serum levels include the following: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). They conducted their study by analyzing data from 2003-2014 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), including serum PFAS and dietary recall data. The dietary recall data asks participants to write down every food or beverage they had eaten, and NHANES would send food frequency questionnaires. Using the data, they put the data in multivariable linear regressions. They concluded that fast food consumption was common among adolescents. Also, they “found significant inverse associations between serum PFAS and calories from food eaten at home, whereas consumption of food from fast food/pizza restaurants and other restaurants generally showed weak positive associations with serum PFAS” (Susmann et al., 2019, p. 6).
Total Fluorine in Food Packagings
In “Fluorinated Compounds in the U.S. Fast Food Packaging,” Laurel Schaider and others conducted a study where they looked at the total fluorine in food packaging. They collected food contact papers, paperboard containers, and beverage containers from fast-food restaurants and measured the fluorine using particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE). They collected 407 samples of food packaging wrappers from different U.S. fast-food restaurants. They also evaluated a “portion of their sample by using conventional solvent extraction and liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis of PFASs” (Schaider et al., 2017, p. 106). “They determined that 46% of food contact papers and 20% of paperboard samples contained detectable fluorine” (Schaider et al., 2017, p. 105). They reached out to a few fast-food restaurants that they collected food contact materials from and asked if they knew if PFASs were in their food packaging materials or not. One of these fast-food restaurants claimed they believed their packaging materials contained PFAS, while another claimed they talked to their supplier and confirmed no PFAS is in their products. However, when conducting their analysis, they found fluorine in their products. The information given by the companies suggests a lack of knowledge and transparency in the fast-food industry about PFAS in food packaging. While we are still learning about the effects of PFAS, this research study is a stepping stone to learn more about the presence of PFAS in fast food packaging.
Photo: Whole Foods Market
What are companies doing?
Several companies such as Whole Foods Market, Sweetgreen, Trader Joe’s, and others are committed to reducing or eliminating PFAS in their food packaging (Dickman, 2020). Manufacturers are taking this step in making fluorine-free single-use food packaging products such as Biodegradable Food Service, Eco-Products, Vegware, and others (Dickman, 2020). Here is a link to a spreadsheet where you can read more about which products are free of PFAS.
What are the alternatives?
Alternative Materials
Polylactic Acid (PLA) (Compostable plastic)
Bamboo
Palm Leaf
Alternative Treatments
Uncoated
Polylactic Acid (PLA) (Compostable plastic)
Clay
Bio-wax
Enshield®
Soak Proof Shield™
Read more about these treatments here.
Congress Legislation
U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell introduced the “Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act '' which “empowers the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to deem PFAS substances in any food containers or cookware unsafe (U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell, 2019). While Representative Dingell’s bill passed in the House, it did not move further in the process. Representative Debbie Dingell remains fighting for the ban of PFAS to ensure the quality of life for Americans.
Bernie Sanders is fighting for a ban on PFAS. Senator Sanders proposed a new bill known as the “Prevent Future American Sickness Act of 2020.” These are not the only bills about eliminating PFAS in the U.S. Congress, and it is our job to make sure our government hears our voices.
Visit Congress.gov to read other legislation about eliminating PFAS in food packaging, water, and our environment.
What can we do?
Contact our elected officials and urge them to enact legislation to eliminate PFAS in food contact materials.
Keep food and grocery chains accountable for their pledge to remove PFAS from their food packaging.
Amplify the voices of the communities that are directly impacted by the potential contact of PFAS in their food contact materials.
Demand transparency about the materials in our food packaging and ensure there is sufficient testing to determine if PFAS is detectable or not in the product.
References
Authorized uses of pfas in food contact applications. (2020). FDA. https://www.fda.gov/food/chemical-contaminants-food/authorized-uses-pfas-food-contact-applications
Dickman, J., Schreder, E., & Uding, N. (2020, August 6). Packaged in Pollution: Are food chains using PFAS in packaging? Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families. https://saferchemicals.org/packaged-in-pollution/
Dingell Introduces Bill to Ban PFAS in Food Containers and Cookware. (2019, May 17). U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell. https://debbiedingell.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1738
European Chemicals Agency. (2020, May 11). Five European states call for evidence on broad PFAS restriction. https://echa.europa.eu/de/-/five-european-states-call-for-evidence-on-broad-pfas-restriction
Gallagher, M. (2020, August 20). Marcie Gallagher: Protection from toxic chemicals more important than ever. Bennington Banner. https://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/columnists/marcie-gallagher-protection-from-toxic-chemicals-more-important-than-ever/article_069cf7a2-9e9f-5f90-b6a9-2a134b0315f9.html
Hogue, C. (2021, October 3). What’s after PFAS for paper food packaging? Chemical and Engineering News. https://cen.acs.org/materials/coatings/PFAS-paper-food-packaging/99/i36
Many Fast Food Wrappers Still Coated in PFCs, Kin to Carcinogenic Teflon Chemical. (2017, February 1). Environmental Working Group. https://www.ewg.org/research/many-fast-food-wrappers-still-coated-pfcs-kin-carcinogenic-teflon-chemical
PFAS in Food Packaging. (n.d.). Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition. Retrieved November 7, 2021, from https://mbcc.org/the-risks-of-pfas/
Potential health effects of PFAS chemicals. (2020, June 24). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/health-effects/index.html
Reade, A., & Lee, S. (2021, August 17). CA PFAS pollution widespread in disadvantaged communities. NRDC. https://www.nrdc.org/experts/anna-reade/pfas-pollution-widespread-disadvantaged-communities
Schaider, L. A., Balan, S. A., Blum, A., Andrews, D. Q., Strynar, M. J., Dickinson, M. E., Lunderberg, D. M., Lang, J. R., & Peaslee, G. F. (2017). Fluorinated Compounds in U. S. Fast Food Packaging. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 4(3), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.6b00435
Susmann, H. P., Schaider, L. A., Rodgers, K. M., & Rudel, R. A. (2020). Dietary Habits Related to Food Packaging and Population Exposure to PFASs. Environmental Health Perspectives, 127(10), 107003. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP4092
US EPA. (2021, October 14). Pfas strategic roadmap: Epa’s commitments to action 2021-2024 [Overviews and Factsheets]. https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-strategic-roadmap-epas-commitments-action-2021-2024