Fast food has been known to be bad for the health in many ways. Now there might be another reason to avoid fast food. Fast food packaging has been revealed to have harmful chemicals in it.
The mention of fast food today would mean unhealthy eating. Many who are into fitness and healthy living would shun fast food or at least do not eat it frequently. Many though who know fast food to be unhealthy would still eat it. However, there is a new study about fast food that could possibly keep people from eating it.
A study has found that many fast food packaging contain harmful chemicals. The research has tested some 400 samples of the packaging used for fast food. Wrappers for a hamburger, French fries containers and plastic cups for soda have all been tested, as well as other types of packaging for fast foodZ.
The packaging that has been tested have been found to contain the chemicals per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). These chemicals have been found in varying degrees in different fast food packaging. It has been found earlier that PFASs could be transferred from the packaging to the food itself. This, in turn, can enter the body once the food is eaten.
Graham Peaslee is a professor of Experimental Nuclear Physics at the University of Notre Dame. He has also tested the sample packaging. He has said that PFASs can be persistent and can enter the bloodstream. The chemicals could then accumulate in the body, according to Notre Dame News.
To test the samples, Peaslee has used particle-induced gamma ray emission (PIGE) spectroscopy. Peaslee has said that the chemicals in the packaging do not degrade over time and could remain in the environment for many years. The chemicals could have added effects on fast food which could be detrimental to health.
The researchers have also tried to reach out to the fast food chains from where the packaging samples came from. Only two have responded, as Science Daily reports. The two who have responded said that they believe their packaging to be free from any PFASs. The researchers hope that the study could help fast food chains to find non-toxic alternatives to their packaging.
Fastfood, as it is, is already dangerous to human health. More so now that a study says fast food packaging has been revealed to have harmful chemicals. A study has found that dengue infection could be deadly for some people.
