Dangerous “Forever Chemicals” Found In Wrappers Of Major Fast-Food Restaurants, Grocery Stores

A new study from Consumer Reports finds dangerous “forever chemicals” in the food wrappers at some of America’s major fast-food restaurants and grocery stores. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—known as PFAS—are also known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down. They’re commonly found in items like nonstick pans and waterproof gear, but CR’s latest report says dangerous levels have been found in the food packaging of a number of major restaurants.  Per their report, the highest level of PFAS they discovered came from materials used by Arby’s, Burger King, Chick-Fil-A, McDonald’s, and Taco Bell, just to name a few. “In recent decades, PFAS exposure has been linked to a growing list of problems, including immune system suppression, lower birth weight, and increased risk for some cancers,” wrote Kevin Loira in CR’s recent report. “This raises alarms about the use of these compounds, especially in items such as burger wrappers and salad bowls.” PFAS have also been labeled a “public health concern” by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. The report also comes just two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. When lockdowns and restrictions were put in place, a majority of Americans turned to food delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats, and grocery delivery services like Instacart. In the United States there are no federal laws that state how many parts per million of PFAS can be in a product. However, states like Connecticut, New York, and Vermont have already passed legislation to ban intentional use of PFAS in food packaging, but they did not set a limit. Come January 2023, a new law in California will set the PFAS limit at 100 ppm. Out of every country in the world, Denmark has some of the strictest restrictions against PFAS, limiting it to only 20 ppm.