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Nowadays the consumption of packaged and processed food is increasing rapidly, but do you know that these foods not only lack nutrients, but are also full of dangerous chemicals? A study recently published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology has revealed the shocking fact that more than 3600 chemicals used in food packaging or manufacturing process have been found in the human body, which can be extremely harmful to our health.
We are often assured that if we wash and cook food properly, we are getting the nutrients we need. However, studies have shown that packaged food contains many dangerous chemicals that leach into the food from the packaging. More than 100 of these chemicals are considered to be a serious concern for human health. Some of these chemicals can not only harm health but can also be fatal in the long run. The most common chemicals among these are PFA (perfluoroalkyl substances) and bisphenol A.
Over 3,600 chemicals have been discovered
Researchers previously documented 14,000 food contact chemicals (FCCs) that can leach into food from packaging made of plastic, paper, metal and other materials, reports AFP. The source of these chemicals can be packaging materials, conveyor belts or even utensils used in food manufacturing. The study found that a total of 3601 chemicals are present in the human body.
Birgit Gueck, the lead author of the research, said that this study cannot show that all the chemicals have reached the body only due to food packaging, because there may be other sources as well. But it is clear that packaging leads to mixing with food items.
Dangerous chemicals in food.
More studies are needed to investigate the effects on health
Guek also said that there is very little information available about the health effects of these chemicals and that more in-depth studies are needed. He also warned that these chemicals can interact with each other, making their effects even more dangerous. 30 different PFAs were found in one sample, which shows that this problem cannot be taken lightly.
What to do to stay safe?
After the study, experts have suggested that food that comes in contact with packaging should be stored for a short time and food that is packed in packaging should never be heated. Apart from this, eating fresh and less processed food and staying away from packaged food can be beneficial for health. This study forces us to think about how safe the food we are eating is and how careful we need to be about it. With the increasing use of packaged food, more research should be done on the effects of these chemicals so that we can better protect our health.