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New Research Tuesday: Plastic chemicals found in 80% of fast food samples

What kind of study was this?

This was an environmental observational study, which means that researchers took samples from the environment (here it was food from fast food restaurants) and analyzed them.

What did researchers want to know?

They wanted to know about the levels of plastic chemicals called ortho-phthalates and DEHT in fast food. The chemicals come from packaging and food handling with plastic gloves. Such chemicals can easily leak into food and then be consumed. These chemicals have been linked to hormone and metabolic disruption in kids, as well as learning, attention, and behavioral problems.

What did the researchers actually do?

They went to the top 5 best-selling fast food chains in San Antonio, TX (where the research lab is located) and ordered the top-selling items on the menu. They took the items in their original packaging, along with a pair of plastic gloves from the restaurant, and froze them until they analyzed them for chemicals using a method called gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

What did the researchers find?

Plastic chemicals were found in all the food samples. Ortho-phthalates were the most commonly detected chemicals, but DEHT had the highest levels when it was found. Burritos had the highest levels of chemicals, whereas cheese pizza and fries had the lowest.  

What does this mean for parents and kids?

Here is yet another reason to reduce fast food in your family’s diet. There are other reasons like fast food usually has poor macronutrient profiles (which means low in protein, high in carbs, and fat) and is mostly made of highly processed foods.

This study doesn’t suggest that eliminating fast food is going to eliminate these chemicals in our kids’ diets. They are likely in all plastic food packaging, including organic foods at the fanciest grocery stores. But it does highlight another reason to avoid fast food.

‍

Original article:
Edwards, L., McCray, N.L., VanNoy, B.N. et al. Phthalate and novel plasticizer concentrations in food items from U.S. fast food chains: a preliminary analysis. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-021-00392-8

‍

New Research Tuesday: Plastic chemicals found in 80% of fast food samples

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New Research Tuesday: Plastic chemicals found in 80% of fast food samples

Need another reason to cut out fast food from your family's diet? Add traces of plastic chemicals in the food to the list.

By

The Yes Collective Expert Team

December 21, 2021

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Key takeaways

1

Plastic chemicals can leak into foods through packaging and handling with plastic gloves

2

These chemicals have been linked to hormone disruption, metabolic disorders, and learning, attention, and behavioral problems

3

Researchers found them present in all fast food items they tested

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What kind of study was this?

This was an environmental observational study, which means that researchers took samples from the environment (here it was food from fast food restaurants) and analyzed them.

What did researchers want to know?

They wanted to know about the levels of plastic chemicals called ortho-phthalates and DEHT in fast food. The chemicals come from packaging and food handling with plastic gloves. Such chemicals can easily leak into food and then be consumed. These chemicals have been linked to hormone and metabolic disruption in kids, as well as learning, attention, and behavioral problems.

What did the researchers actually do?

They went to the top 5 best-selling fast food chains in San Antonio, TX (where the research lab is located) and ordered the top-selling items on the menu. They took the items in their original packaging, along with a pair of plastic gloves from the restaurant, and froze them until they analyzed them for chemicals using a method called gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

What did the researchers find?

Plastic chemicals were found in all the food samples. Ortho-phthalates were the most commonly detected chemicals, but DEHT had the highest levels when it was found. Burritos had the highest levels of chemicals, whereas cheese pizza and fries had the lowest.  

What does this mean for parents and kids?

Here is yet another reason to reduce fast food in your family’s diet. There are other reasons like fast food usually has poor macronutrient profiles (which means low in protein, high in carbs, and fat) and is mostly made of highly processed foods.

This study doesn’t suggest that eliminating fast food is going to eliminate these chemicals in our kids’ diets. They are likely in all plastic food packaging, including organic foods at the fanciest grocery stores. But it does highlight another reason to avoid fast food.

‍

Original article:
Edwards, L., McCray, N.L., VanNoy, B.N. et al. Phthalate and novel plasticizer concentrations in food items from U.S. fast food chains: a preliminary analysis. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-021-00392-8

‍

What kind of study was this?

This was an environmental observational study, which means that researchers took samples from the environment (here it was food from fast food restaurants) and analyzed them.

What did researchers want to know?

They wanted to know about the levels of plastic chemicals called ortho-phthalates and DEHT in fast food. The chemicals come from packaging and food handling with plastic gloves. Such chemicals can easily leak into food and then be consumed. These chemicals have been linked to hormone and metabolic disruption in kids, as well as learning, attention, and behavioral problems.

What did the researchers actually do?

They went to the top 5 best-selling fast food chains in San Antonio, TX (where the research lab is located) and ordered the top-selling items on the menu. They took the items in their original packaging, along with a pair of plastic gloves from the restaurant, and froze them until they analyzed them for chemicals using a method called gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

What did the researchers find?

Plastic chemicals were found in all the food samples. Ortho-phthalates were the most commonly detected chemicals, but DEHT had the highest levels when it was found. Burritos had the highest levels of chemicals, whereas cheese pizza and fries had the lowest.  

What does this mean for parents and kids?

Here is yet another reason to reduce fast food in your family’s diet. There are other reasons like fast food usually has poor macronutrient profiles (which means low in protein, high in carbs, and fat) and is mostly made of highly processed foods.

This study doesn’t suggest that eliminating fast food is going to eliminate these chemicals in our kids’ diets. They are likely in all plastic food packaging, including organic foods at the fanciest grocery stores. But it does highlight another reason to avoid fast food.

‍

Original article:
Edwards, L., McCray, N.L., VanNoy, B.N. et al. Phthalate and novel plasticizer concentrations in food items from U.S. fast food chains: a preliminary analysis. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-021-00392-8

‍

What kind of study was this?

This was an environmental observational study, which means that researchers took samples from the environment (here it was food from fast food restaurants) and analyzed them.

What did researchers want to know?

They wanted to know about the levels of plastic chemicals called ortho-phthalates and DEHT in fast food. The chemicals come from packaging and food handling with plastic gloves. Such chemicals can easily leak into food and then be consumed. These chemicals have been linked to hormone and metabolic disruption in kids, as well as learning, attention, and behavioral problems.

What did the researchers actually do?

They went to the top 5 best-selling fast food chains in San Antonio, TX (where the research lab is located) and ordered the top-selling items on the menu. They took the items in their original packaging, along with a pair of plastic gloves from the restaurant, and froze them until they analyzed them for chemicals using a method called gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

What did the researchers find?

Plastic chemicals were found in all the food samples. Ortho-phthalates were the most commonly detected chemicals, but DEHT had the highest levels when it was found. Burritos had the highest levels of chemicals, whereas cheese pizza and fries had the lowest.  

What does this mean for parents and kids?

Here is yet another reason to reduce fast food in your family’s diet. There are other reasons like fast food usually has poor macronutrient profiles (which means low in protein, high in carbs, and fat) and is mostly made of highly processed foods.

This study doesn’t suggest that eliminating fast food is going to eliminate these chemicals in our kids’ diets. They are likely in all plastic food packaging, including organic foods at the fanciest grocery stores. But it does highlight another reason to avoid fast food.

‍

Original article:
Edwards, L., McCray, N.L., VanNoy, B.N. et al. Phthalate and novel plasticizer concentrations in food items from U.S. fast food chains: a preliminary analysis. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-021-00392-8

‍

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