Nonstick chemicals found in fast-food packaging

[yuiyoshida]

FLORIDA – Burgers, fries, tacos and pastries come wrapped in grease-proof paper and boxes that often contain nonstick chemicals that may be able to leach into food, U.S. researchers said on Feb. 1.

The study in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters tested more than 400 samples from 27 fast-food chains in the United States.

Almost half of paper wrappers and 20 percent of paperboard samples — such as boxes for fries and pizza — contained fluorine, a marker for highly fluorinated chemicals used in stain-resistant carpets, nonstick cookware and waterproof outdoor apparel.

“Wrappers for Tex-Mex food, desserts and breads were the most likely to contain fluorine,” said the report.

The study did not show any specific harm to human health from exposure to these chemicals — known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — in food wrappers.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/02/11/world/science-health-world/nonstick-chemicals-found-fast-food-packaging/#.WJ_aadQrLMo

[jberryhill]

1. The idea is that they should not be in those wrappers for storage

The anticipated service lifetime of a fast food wrapped is probably intended to be minutes.