Study Reveals Risks of Chemicals in Food Packaging

<figure> <img alt="A baby food aisle in a Publix grocery store in Florida." src="https://platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/GettyImages-2050742365.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> Baby food pouches, in particular, carry a higher chemical exposure risk. | Jeffrey Greenberg, Universal Images Group via Getty Images </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>This story was originally published by <a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01092026/food-packaging-toxic-chemicals/">Inside Climate News</a> and is reproduced here as part of the <a href="https://www.climatedesk.org/">Climate Desk</a> collaboration.</em></p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Consumers often check sell-by dates to determine if food is safe to eat, but there are no labels indicating the potential presence of hazardous chemicals such as pesticides, phthalates, and PFAS in food packaging.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">A new peer-reviewed study analyzed over 15,000 chemicals that can contact food and identified 1,222 that pose significant health risks, including cancer and reproductive harm. The study, published in the journal <em>Environmental Science &amp; Technology</em>, found that 87 percent of these chemicals lack sufficient information for risk assessment.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Jane Muncke, managing director at the Food Packaging Forum Foundation and co-author of the study, highlighted the lack of publicly available information as a significant issue. She stated that consumers trust regulators to ensure the safety of chemicals in food packaging, but this is often not the case.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Maricel Maffini, an independent chemical safety expert, noted that while the study effectively highlights the lack of knowledge about these chemicals, there is much more information that remains unexamined.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The research team identified chemicals from lists approved by regulators in various countries, focusing on those linked to health hazards. They created a priority list of 1,222 chemicals, categorized into four tiers based on evidence of human exposure. Tier 1 includes 94 chemicals detected in human samples, which are prioritized for regulatory action.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Among the chemicals of concern are PFAS, styrene, phthalates, and bisphenol A, which have been found to leach into various food products, including infant formula and oils.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The study recommends that regulators adopt a more comprehensive approach to chemical safety, including evaluating chemicals in groups rather than individually and considering the combined effects of multiple chemicals.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Muncke expressed concern about the exposure of infants to plastic chemicals in baby food packaging, noting that her team found over 330 chemicals leaching from pouches, with nearly 80 classified as hazardous. The study emphasizes the need for more research to understand the risks associated with these chemicals.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The authors argue that chemicals should not be allowed on the market without proof of safety and that those with structural similarities to known hazardous chemicals should be prioritized for regulation. They stress that just because a chemical is not currently known to be hazardous does not mean it is safe.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The study aims to provide guidance on avoiding common regulatory mistakes regarding food-contact chemicals.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Inside Climate News reached out to the American Chemistry Council and the Food Packaging Coalition for comment, but neither responded. The Food Packaging Coalition maintains that packaging is designed to prevent the transfer of harmful components to food.</p>