Ultra-processed Food: It’s Not Just the Food; It’s the Packaging

August 25, 2024

by Cathe Friedrich

You’re cruising through the grocery store, in search of something you can make for dinner. You need something you can pop in the oven or microwave fast. As you search, your eyes fall upon a tempting array of prepackaged meals and other quick-to-fix and microwaveable options. But there’s a problem. Most food you buy in packages isn’t good for you.

But it’s not just the ultra-processed food wrapped in that package that’s problematic for your health, it’s the packaging itself. That plastic or shrink-wrapped package has synthetic chemicals and plastic particles. These include phthalates, microplastic, or pFOS. (forever chemicals). Why are these components a problem?

Phthalates

If you haven’t noticed, most processed foods are packaged in plastic. It’s inexpensive and helps keep food securely protected from moisture and the environment. But did you know plastic wrap and plastic containers contain chemicals called phthalates?

Scientists now know that phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals. These are compounds that disrupt hormones and signaling pathways that tell cells how to behave. The hormones that phthalates interfere with include ones that affect fertility, weight control, and early childhood development. Studies show that people who consume ultra-processed foods have higher levels of phthalates in their bloodstream.

You might argue that when you eat foods stored in plastic, you’re not consuming the packaging. Yet, research shows phthalates in plastic leach into the food placed in it. If you expose packaging to heat, such as microwaving a frozen meal, it increases the number of phthalates that enter the food or beverage.

pFOS

Phthalates are concerning enough but there’s another synthetic chemical in food and water you should be concerned about – pFOS, a type of forever chemical. It’s called a forever chemical because it takes so long for you to eliminate it from your body. pFOS has a half-life of around five years. This means that when pFOS enters your body, it will take five years for you to eliminate half of it. The reason? It binds strongly to proteins in your body. It also resists enzymes that break it down.

What happens when you have high levels of pFOS in your body? Animal studies link these synthetic chemicals with thyroid disease, cancer, and reproductive problems. So, you want to avoid them. One of the biggest sources of exposure to pFOS is pFOS in water. However, manufacturers also coat the wrappers of ultra-processed foods with pFOS to keep them from sticking to the product.

PFOS is also a component in non-stick cookware and synthetic sports clothing and rain gear. When something is labeled as stain resistant or water resistant, it likely contains some form of PFOS. Even some paper packaging, like reusable, paper coffee cups are lined on the inside with pFOS. Unfortunately, studies now show we can absorb pFOS through the skin, for example, when you wear treated sports clothing.

Microplastics

If you’re lucky enough to escape the dangers of phthalates and pFOS, you’re not out of the woods. The packaging of ultra-processed food also contains tiny plastic fragments called microplastics. They’re also in personal care products, usually in the form of microbeads. One major source of microplastics is bottled water. One study found a single liter of bottled water may harbor 240,000 microplastic or nano plastic particles (even smaller than microplastics).

What kind of health issues could microplastics cause? Scientists are still looking at their potential harms. But in early studies, research shows they increase oxidative stress and inflammation and cause DNA damage of the type that leads to cancer. Plus, there’s concern that they may disrupt the gut microbiome. But be aware that these risks are still unproven. Of concern are studies showing microplastics in the walls of human coronary arteries, lungs, kidneys, liver, and placenta. Not to mention the impact they have on the environment.

How prevalent are these tiny plastic fibers? A study published in the journal Environmental Pollution found that microplastics were present in 88% of protein-rich food products tested, with higher levels found in highly processed foods.

How to Reduce Your Exposure to Chemicals/Microplastics in Food Packaging

You can’t escape phthalates, pFOS, and microplastics entirely. They’re too pervasive. However, you can lower your exposure to them:

Avoid Bottled Water Housed in Plastic: Scientists have now assessed and found thousands of microplastics in bottled water. You might think you’re drinking safer when you choose bottled water, but microplastics are a deal breaker. Plus, research also shows that some bottled water is straight from the tap.
Avoid Heating Food in Plastic: If you buy food packaged in plastic, remove it and put it in a glass container as soon as you buy it. Don’t microwave food or beverages in plastic containers.
Use Non-Plastic Storage: Store food in glass, silicone, or foil containers rather than housing them in plastic.
Eat Fresh and Whole: Choose fresh, unpackaged foods. Not only are they more nutritious, but you avoid packaging issues.
Limit High-Fat Foods: High-fat foods are more likely to contain phthalates than lower fat ones. Plus, phthalates in plastic packaging can transfer to fatty foods easier than lower fat ones.
Avoid Fast Foods: Studies show many fast foods have high levels of plasticizers like phthalates. One reason is the workers often wear vinyl gloves, which are treated with phthalates.
Filter Tap Water: Use a water filtration system to remove microplastics and other contaminants from tap water.
Support Sustainable Practices: Encourage and support policies and practices that limit single-use plastics and promote sustainable packaging.

Conclusion

So now you know. The convenience of buying packaged meals comes at a staggering cost. From endocrine-disrupting phthalates and persistent pFOS to omnipresent microplastics, there’s mounting evidence that food containers are a source of exposure to harmful chemicals. So, the next time you’re reading the ingredient list on a packaged item, scrutinize the packaging too!

References:

Landrigan PJ, Raps H, Cropper M, Bald C, Brunner M, Canonizado EM, Charles D, Chiles TC, Donohue MJ, Enck J, Fenichel P, Fleming LE, Ferrier-Pages C, Fordham R, Gozt A, Griffin C, Hahn ME, Haryanto B, Hixson R, Ianelli H, James BD, Kumar P, Laborde A, Law KL, Martin K, Mu J, Mulders Y, Mustapha A, Niu J, Pahl S, Park Y, Pedrotti ML, Pitt JA, Ruchirawat M, Seewoo BJ, Spring M, Stegeman JJ, Suk W, Symeonides C, Takada H, Thompson RC, Vicini A, Wang Z, Whitman E, Wirth D, Wolff M, Yousuf AK, Dunlop S. The Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health. Ann Glob Health. 2023 Mar 21;89(1):23. doi: 10.5334/aogh.4056.
Wang Y, Qian H. Phthalates and Their Impacts on Human Health. Healthcare (Basel). 2021 May 18;9(5):603. doi: 10.3390/healthcare9050603. PMID: 34069956; PMCID: PMC8157593. Xu, X., Li, T., & Zhen, J. (2020). A Detailed Review Study on Potential Effects of Microplastics and Additives of Concern on Human Health. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part C, 28, 1-15.
Baker BH, Melough MM, Paquette AG, Barrett ES, Day DB, Kannan K, Hn Nguyen R, Bush NR, LeWinn KZ, Carroll KN, Swan SH, Zhao Q, Sathyanarayana S. Ultra-processed and fast food consumption, exposure to phthalates during pregnancy, and socioeconomic disparities in phthalate exposures. Environ Int. 2024 Jan;183:108427. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108427. Epub 2024 Jan 6. Erratum in: Environ Int. 2024 Apr;186:108623. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108623. PMID: 38194756; PMCID: PMC10834835.
“Plastic Particles in Bottled Water.” 2024. National Institutes of Health (NIH). January 22, 2024. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/plastic-particles-bottled-water.
“The truth about nanoplastics in bottled water | UCLA Health.” 11 Apr. 2024, https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/truth-about-nanoplastics-bottled-water.