Chemicals in packaged foods linked to breast cancer – Study

A new study has revealed that nearly 200 chemicals associated with breast cancer are used in food packaging and plastic tableware.

Alarmingly, many of these harmful substances can seep into food. The study, “Potential mammary carcinogens used in food contact articles: implications for policy, enforcement, and prevention” noted.

A coauthor and managing director of the Food Packaging Forum in Zurich, Switzerland, Jane Muncke stated, “There is strong evidence that 76 known or potential breast carcinogens from food contact materials recently purchased all over the world can be found in people.”

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She said that eliminating these carcinogens from food supply presents opportunity for cancer prevention.

The research states that 40 of the detected chemicals are already considered hazardous by global regulatory agencies.

A research scientist at Silent Spring Institute, Jenny Kay noted, “So many of these chemicals have already been classified as human health hazards, yet they are still allowed to be used in food contact materials, thus allowing them to migrate into the food we eat.”

As rates of early-onset breast cancer among women under 50 continue to rise, experts are questioning the role of environmental factors alongside genetics.

A former deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, Dr. Len Lichtenfeld remarked, “Rates of colon cancer are also rising in younger people. Is it obesity? Is it alcohol? Is it the lack of physical activity? Is it environmental? There are a lot of reasons.”

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The Consumer Brands Association defended the safety of food packaging, stating that its members follow the US Food and Drug Administration’s evidence-based safety standards.

Association’s senior vice president, Sarah Gallo, explained, “Packaging exists to protect and keep food safe for consumption.”
The study’s findings align with a 2007 report by Silent Spring, which identified 216 chemicals linked to mammary tumours in rodents.
An updated list published in January 2024 uncovered 921 carcinogenic chemicals, including many that may stimulate hormone production, another risk factor for breast cancer.

Kay warned, “The fact that so many potential breast carcinogens are present in food packaging and can migrate into our food is just one example of how many chemicals we are unwittingly exposed to every day.”
The research, published in Frontiers in Toxicology, compared the Silent Spring database of known carcinogens to the Food Contact Chemicals Monitored in Humans (FCChumon) database, which tracks chemicals found in human breast milk, blood, urine, and tissues. It discovered substances like benzene, a known carcinogen linked to breast cancer, and various dyes used in plastics and paper.

Kay noted, “While most exposure to carcinogens came from plastics used in food packaging, 89 suspected carcinogens were also found in paper and cardboard containers.” Many chemicals, such as bisphenols and phthalates, are linked to numerous health issues, including cancer and chronic diseases.

Major Takeaway

To help reduce exposure to these toxic chemicals, consumers can take several steps, as suggested by Silent Spring. Avoid burning or charring food, remove fat and skin from meat before cooking, and choose younger seafood to reduce mercury exposure. When possible, opt for organic produce and dairy, and store food in glass containers instead of plastic.