Two recent studies have raised health concerns about the prevalence of phthalates in the US food supply chain. These widely used plasticizer chemicals are added to hundreds of products, from shampoos to garden hoses. One of their main functions is to improve the durability of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is a synthetic plastic used for vinyl, water pipes, shrink wrap, bottles, etc. Their popularity obscures the health risks they may bring. Phthalates have been shown to hinder hormone function and cause diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity. These chemicals are also associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in children and reproductive problems in adult men and women.

Phthalates are widely found in the US food system, in industrial equipment, food packaging, and food safety gloves. Therefore, food that has been industrially processed or prepared in restaurants is likely to come into contact with the source of phthalates. Free-floating particles are easily transferred to the food they come into contact with, and are easily ingested or inhaled. Contaminated food is the main source of phthalate exposure.

In response to increasing evidence related to the toxicity of phthalates, the United States has effectively banned its use in toys and other children's products since 2008. The EU’s ban extends to food containers, but the US has not yet followed suit. Therefore, as shown in two studies published last month, exposure to phthalates in processed foods still poses health risks to American consumers.

The first study, conducted by researchers and faculty at George Washington University (GWU) and published on October 27, 2021, showed that cheese pizza, chicken burritos, chicken nuggets, French fries, and hamburgers are common fast foods Contains detectable phthalates. Investigators found these chemicals in more than 80% of foods purchased from fast food chains such as Burger King, Chipotle, Domino, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. The phthalates (called DnBP and DEHP) found in the samples are associated with an increased risk of respiratory problems and reproductive health problems.

The researchers chose to take samples from fast food chains to understand the prevalence of phthalates in the entire U.S. food system. Testing found that plastic gloves, which are usually blamed for phthalate contamination, contain lower levels of chemical substances than the food itself. Therefore, the researchers concluded that processed foods must absorb phthalates through contact with multiple phthalate-containing surfaces in the supply chain. A recent study by scientists from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also found that the phthalate content in fast food packaging and food processing materials can be detected, indicating that conveyor belts and pipelines are phthalate-contaminated Potential source.

GWU's research builds on previous research that used nationally representative data to link daily consumption of ultra-processed foods to increased phthalate exposure. These previous studies found that people who regularly consume prepared foods and fast foods have 35% to 40% higher phthalate levels than people who usually cook at home.

From the perspective of health and equity, the high concentration of phthalates in fast food is also worrying. A report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2018 found that black Americans have a higher consumption rate of fast food compared with other racial or ethnic groups. An earlier study completed in 2016 showed that there is a greater correlation between fast food consumption and phthalate exposure in black Americans than whites and Hispanics.

These differences may be related to urban housing policies, which lead to racial segregation and marginalized communities without access to nutritious food. Although such communities are often referred to as "food deserts," many people in the food justice movement prefer to describe them as products of "food apartheid." Food justice leaders believe that the term “food desert” obscures the cultural vitality of these communities and falsely implies that food insecurity is a natural feature of the food system. In contrast, "food apartheid" draws attention to the ways in which systemic racism, economic and geographic intersections lead to food injustice.

In the second study, researchers at the Grossman School of Medicine at New York University reported that phthalates in plastic food containers and cosmetics can cause up to 100,000 premature deaths each year. Researchers analyzed urine samples collected from 5303 adults aged 55 to 64 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2010 (NHANES). After testing samples of phthalates, the researchers compared the results with mortality data collected by NHANES participants as of 2015.

Researchers report that people with the highest phthalate concentrations have an increased risk of dying from heart disease compared to people with lower phthalate concentrations. These results support earlier studies linking phthalate exposure to changes in gene expression in cardiomyocytes and heart disease symptoms such as arrhythmia.

The study also provides new insights into the economic loss of premature death due to phthalate exposure. Researchers multiplied the Lifetime Economic Productivity estimates of the Institute of Healthy Aging for Americans aged 55 to 64 by the number of deaths caused by phthalates. Using this calculation, researchers estimate that these deaths cost Americans more than 39 billion dollars in economic productivity. Their findings are based on a 2015 study that linked phthalates to more than 10,000 adult male deaths caused by lower testosterone levels each year. Investigators believe that the economic productivity loss caused by these deaths is nearly 9 billion U.S. dollars.

"Our research shows that this chemical has caused more damage to society than we initially thought," said Dr. Leonardo Trasander, director of the New York University Langone Environmental Hazard Investigation Center, in a news release. Said in the draft. "It is undeniable that there is evidence that restricting exposure to toxic phthalates helps protect the physical and financial situation of Americans."

Significantly reducing the exposure of phthalates in food may require the FDA to strengthen the supervision of chemicals. Studies evaluating the impact of the ban on phthalates in children’s products have shown that regulatory efforts can help curb phthalates exposure. However, the FDA insists that the agency has not yet seen enough evidence that these chemicals have a negative impact on human health. Therefore, the FDA continues to provide the "Recognized Safe" designation for food packaging containing phthalates.

"When new information raises safety issues, if the FDA can no longer conclude with reasonable certainty that authorized use is harmless, the FDA may revoke the food additive approval," an FDA spokesperson told the Washington Post reporter. Response to the results of the GWU study.

Until the United States expands regulations, public awareness campaigns can provide another way to reduce phthalate pollution in the food system. Efforts to remove phthalates from cosmetics provide examples of successful advocacy against the use of these chemicals. In the past two decades, public health organizations such as the Safe Cosmetics Campaign and Environmental Working Group (EWG) have alerted many consumers to the health risks associated with phthalate exposure. EWG's Skin Deep database provides consumers with in-depth information about the toxicity and health hazards of nearly 65,000 cosmetic and hygiene product ingredients. The team of toxicologists, chemists and epidemiologists of the non-profit organization also approved the EWG VERIFIED™ mark for products that it considers to be free of potentially harmful ingredients.

Their efforts have helped transform phthalate-free products into the fastest growing area of ​​the cosmetics industry. Similar protests among food shoppers and diners may prompt food manufacturers and fast food companies to remove phthalates from their supply chains.

Writing for the New York City Food Policy Center is always looking for innovative, smart writers who can create high-quality, research-based content. Read more information here: https://nycfoodpolicy.org/write-nyc-food-policy-center/

Copyright © 2021 Hunter College New York City Center for Food Policy. all rights reserved.