A recent peer-reviewed study has identified 1,222 chemicals used in food packaging and processing that pose serious health risks, including cancer and reproductive harm. The research, published in Environmental Science & Technology by the Food Packaging Forum Foundation, also found that a substantial majority—87 percent, or over 13,200 chemicals—lack enough accessible information to even estimate their potential risks.
Jane Muncke, a co-author of the study and managing director at the Food Packaging Forum Foundation, highlighted that the lack of publicly available information for independent scientists to assess the safety of these chemicals is a critical issue. Consumers often assume that chemicals allowed in food products have undergone thorough safety testing, but this is not always the case, Muncke stated.
Independent chemical safety expert Maricel Maffini, who was not involved in the study, described the research as a significant effort to illuminate the unknown risks associated with substances that affect the general population. She noted that the study focused on a list considered reliable by industry and regulators, suggesting that the actual number of chemicals of concern could be much higher.
Previous work by Muncke's team identified more than 15,000 chemicals used in food processing or packaging from regulatory lists in the United States, China, Japan, Europe, and South America. The new study analyzed this extensive list to pinpoint the most problematic substances. The researchers prioritized chemicals by examining data from governmental and regulatory agencies that linked them to human health hazards such as cancer, reproductive harm, or the ability to concentrate in the body.
This analysis resulted in a priority list of 1,222 chemicals, categorized into four tiers based on the evidence of human exposure from food-contact materials. Tier 1, the highest priority, includes 94 chemicals known to leach into food and have been detected in human samples like breast milk and blood. These substances are recommended for phasing out by regulators and companies.
Among the Tier 1 chemicals are PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” which can contaminate food and are associated with liver and immune system damage. Styrene, a probable carcinogen used in takeout and dairy containers, and phthalates, which disrupt hormones and are used to make plastics flexible, are also on the list. Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in hard plastics and can linings and known for its endocrine-disrupting properties, is another chemical of concern.
Studies have documented these and other chemicals leaching into various foods and beverages, including water, infant formula, juices, dairy products, oils, and fatty foods. Tier 2 of the priority list includes an additional 264 hazardous chemicals that leach into food but have not yet been detected in biomonitoring studies.
The study's authors suggest several recommendations for regulators to reduce consumer exposure. These include evaluating chemicals in groups rather than individually, incorporating a “mixture allocation factor” to account for the combined effects of multiple chemical exposures, and modifying material safety rules to ensure products are safe under various use conditions. Expanding toxicity screening to include chronic health outcomes like diabetes and infertility is also recommended. The report also advocates for prioritizing inert materials like glass or stainless steel that do not leach chemicals into food.
Industry groups, such as the American Chemistry Council and the Food Packaging Coalition, did not respond to requests for comment regarding the release of hazard information or the phasing out of hazardous chemicals. The Food Packaging Coalition has maintained that packaging is designed to prevent component transfer to food and ensure its safety for intended use.
Concerns are particularly high regarding the exposure of infants to plastic chemicals. Muncke's team found that over 330 chemicals can leach from baby food pouches, with nearly 80 of them identified as hazardous. The higher ratio of packaging to food in small servings, combined with heat used in sterilization, can accelerate chemical migration and the formation of microplastics.
For the 87 percent of chemicals lacking hazard data, the primary issue is the lack of public disclosure. Study co-author Helene Wiesinger, a chemist at the Food Packaging Forum, stated that this data gap delays regulatory action, as governments and scientists must first determine the safety of these substances. Wiesinger believes that products and chemicals should not be allowed on the market until their safety is proven by the manufacturer.
The paper also argues that chemicals with structural similarities to known hazardous substances should be prioritized for regulation. Approximately 70 percent of the more than 4,200 chemicals classified into 38 priority groups, including PFAS, phthalates, and organophosphates, lack sufficient data for a comprehensive risk assessment. The researchers emphasize that a lack of current knowledge about a chemical's hazards does not equate to its safety.