- A new report details the amounts of PFAS chemicals in restaurant packaging.
- PFAS are types of chemicals that make good grease-proof packaging, but they also penetrate into your food.
- Many restaurants cited in the report have pledged to remove packaging that contains PFAS.
Next time you crave fast food, think again. Not for any dieting reason, but because many popular fast food restaurants use wrappers that contain Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS, according to a March 24 Consumer Reports warning.
PFAS are types of chemicals convenient for making grease-proof packaging, but have been proven to soak into food, especially fatty and salty foods, according to the report. Known as “forever chemicals,” PFAS linger in people’s bodies, and chronic exposure is linked to many health problems, including decreased fertility, hormonal changes, increased cholesterol, weakened immune system response, increased risk of some cancers, as well as growth and learning delays in infants and children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Eight restaurants, including those that tout a healthier menu—Chick-fil-A, Arby’s, Burger King, McDonald’s, Nathan’s Famous, Taco Bell, Sweetgreen, and Cava—“had at least one type of packaging,” that contained PFAS. Consumer Reports also found packaging that contained PFAS at grocery stores that promote healthier products, including Trader Joe’s.
Labs tested more than 100 food packaging products from 24 restaurant and grocery chains across the country in fall 2021, according to Consumer Reports. (You can see the full breakdown of their latest findings here.)
“We found these chemicals in many types of packaging, from paper bags for french fries and wrappers for hamburgers, to molded fiber salad bowls and single-use paper plates. PFAS were in some packaging from every retailer we looked at,” per the report.
Hope for a Fast-Food Future
Several restaurants—including Cava, Chipotle, Freshii, Panera Bread, Sweetgreen, and Wendy’s—pledged to remove PFAS from their packaging by the end of 2021, per the report, but they have extended those timelines, citing supply chain problems. Chick-fil-A announced that PFAS packaging “is expected to be phased out by the end of summer of 2022.” McDonald’s and Taco Bell have similarly committed to removing this type of packaging by 2025. Restaurant Brands International (RBI), owner of Burger King, Popeyes, and Tim Hortons, announced it will ban PFAS in food packaging globally by 2025. RBI is one of the world’s largest quick-service restaurant companies with 27,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries.
What Are PFAS?
Widespread PFAS chemical use dates back to the 1950s. The “unbreakable” substances, as the report calls them, have been found in people’s bodies, in the air we breathe, in our water, and in our homes.
Two of the chemicals in this family of substances are no longer used: PFOS and PFOA, which once had numerous purposes, including use in fire-fighting foam, nonstick pans, and stain-resistant textiles. While they are illegal in the U.S., these chemicals do still remain to some degree in the water and soil, and they are still used in products made in other countries.
People made the first PFAS when they discovered that fusing the elements carbon and fluorine forms a strong and stable chemical bond. The resulting substances are extremely effective at making things resistant to water, oil, heat, and corrosion. There are more than 4,700 different PFAS chemicals known today, formulated for commercial and industrial applications.
“PFAS are materials of which the average person should be aware,” James Dickerson, Consumer Reports’ chief scientific officer, said in 2019. “Consumer Reports has investigated the issue of chemical exposure for 80-plus years. PFAS and similar compounds have emerged as significant potential risks that should be mitigated.”
How Can You Avoid PFAS?
You can’t avoid all PFAS, because they are so numerous in our environment. However, you can be aware of sources of higher exposure, says Dickerson.
-People who live in places with particularly high levels of PFAS chemicals, such as communities near military bases and airfields, should be aware of their higher risk. The CDC is studying such places for contamination in ground and drinking water. A common source of high PFAS in these locations is due to the type of fire-fighting foams used there. Beware of living near industrial facilities where these products are produced, as well.
-If you have a public water system, you can check your annual water quality report and see whether levels of certain PFAS chemicals exceed the EPA’s advisory level in your water source. Consumer Reports also advises contacting your local water utility to see whether there is ongoing testing for PFAS chemicals, which are also called perfluorinated compounds (PFCs).
-If you aren’t connected to the public water system, you can find a certified lab to test your water. Contact your local health department or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for more details.
-Consider installing reverse-osmosis filters if your PFAS count is high. These filters reduce contaminants in water through a special membrane that traps tiny particles in a multistage process. They are available at stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s and Amazon.
-Find alternatives to stain-resistant fabric that contains PFAS. Carpet and furniture brands that don’t use stain-resistant or water-resistant coatings are out there.
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Before joining Popular Mechanics, Manasee Wagh worked as a newspaper reporter, a science journalist, a tech writer, and a computer engineer. She’s always looking for ways to combine the three greatest joys in her life: science, travel, and food.
