Most of us love fast food and the frequency with which we might eat varies, but we all know it is bad for you and still eat it. It is good to see there are now a few healthy choices and the options are growing. Now, it is not just the food that is bad, it is the packaging that food comes, is bad as well. Yes, that is right, all the non-stick coating that is put-in to prevent wrapping/packaging to be a moist/messy. You might say, I don’t eat the wrapper or lick it (some do) but still they creep in to food, as FDA tests proved, when come in contact.
The group of chemicals that are used are PFAS (fluorinated) and they are in all of the food packaging, for example to name a few: pizza, burger, pastries, take-out containers and microwavable popcorn bags! The chemical & packaging industry knows this for a long time but they hid it well. Now CDC and others are trying to cleanup but have a long way to go. Why can’t they be banned right away! I do know that we need healthy and affordable alternatives before that…but need a forcing function, right? Some states are trying to take matters into their own hands, for example the state of WA. Good job WA.
How these toxins get from the wrap to food depends upon the
- Type of food (how greasy etc)
- How hot was it
- How long was it wrapped etc etc
These chemicals might cause variety of problems:
- Fertility and hormonal growth
- Developing fetus well
- Liver damage
- Increase cancer risk etc etc
We can’t really avoid fast food, for a variety of reasons, but we should try to avoid, for example, I am thinking I will ask to wrap my food in a napkin, next time when I am eating in the restaurant! We can also ask the businesses to get the alternative products (CEH has list & pricing). I know it will make it expensive but the business can offer an alternative, at a price, for those willing to pay. We need more alternatives invented and distributed, making it affordable for everyone. All right Pieneers, now that is a #ProWoSo.
As always, know of anyone or any startup working on this, please let me know, I will update this post.
[Image Credit: Thanks to Hans via Pixabay]
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