Food contact materials (FCMs) have been under the scrutiny of researchers working in health, nutrition and the environment for several years. Packaging does indeed contain chemical substances that come into contact with food — just think of the inner lining of tins, the laminate on drinks cartons, or the plastic in bottles.

Which chemical substances are found in food

A recent study on FCMs, conducted by environmental scientists Jane Muncke, John Peterson Myers, Martin Scheringer and Miquel Porta and recently published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, has highlighted that many of the substances contained in packaging can migrate into the food we put on the table every day. According to the authors, despite their presence being regulated, the risk that people eat contaminated food is high. And far too little is known about the long-term impact of these substances. The researchers are particularly keen to obtain answers regarding permanent exposure to FCMs, which are "a cause for concern for several reasons": for example, formaldehyde, a substance that at high doses can cause cancer, found in bottles of certain drinks and in melamine tableware, but also bisphenol A (or BPA), tributyltin, triclosan and phthalates — substances that can interact negatively with hormone production.

The researchers' objective is to find evidence of the link between food in contact with chemical substances and serious conditions such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, and neurological and inflammatory disorders. "While for science some of these substances are the subject of debate and policy-makers struggle to meet the needs of stakeholders, consumers remain exposed to these chemical substances every day, largely without being aware of it," the researchers stated.

When doing the shopping, to avoid the risk of exposure to substances whose health effects are still poorly understood, the advice is to buy fresh, unpackaged food and store it in an ordinary paper food bag. A practical, safe, economical solution that is also good for the environment.