John Myers
Many studies show that fast food is bad for our health. But not only the food used or its additives are harmful – the packaging often contains much more toxic substances. The natural appearance of paper or cardboard packaging is deceptive. Read for yourself!
Chemicals in fast food packaging
According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto and published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, the toxic chemicals found in fast food packaging easily enter people’s bloodstream.
Oily foods such as fast food and microwave popcorn are typically packaged in paper or cardboard boxes. Both packaging materials are coated with polyfluoroalkyl phosphate ester (PAP), which prevents water or grease from penetrating the packaging.
Toxic chemicals are detectable in the body
A previous study conducted by the same research team confirmed that food can absorb PAPs from packaging, which is how they enter the digestive system. This is a particularly worrying result since the body can convert these PAPs into a class of highly toxic chemicals called perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCA).
The most notorious PFCA is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, also known as C8), the active ingredient in Teflon. PFOA and other PFCAs have been linked to a variety of health problems, such as changes in cholesterol levels and sex hormones. These toxins have even caused tumors and sudden infant death syndrome in animal studies.
PFOA, which is used in non-stick pans (as well as fast-food wrappers, carpets, furniture, and a host of other everyday household items), accumulates in babies’ umbilical cords, slowing their growth and brain development. Two new studies published in the prestigious journal Environmental Health Perspectives (August 2007), describe Andreas Moritz in the book Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation.
Babies whose umbilical cord had a higher concentration of PFOA were born lighter, thinner, and with a smaller head circumference than others.
In the new study, rats were exposed to toxic PAPs. This confirmed that these were actually metabolized into PFOA.
This discovery is important because we want to control human exposure to chemicals. However, this is only possible if we know the source of this burden. Said researcher Scott Mabury. He suggested that these results refute any attempts to explain the blame for human exposure to environmental contamination resulting from past use of chemicals. It is the new chemicals used in production today that have led to this catastrophic development.
