(NewsNation) — A new study found that 86% of foods tested in the Bay Area contained plastic chemicals, including those known to be hormonally active in humans.
The group focused on chemicals that are used to improve the performance of plastic, including phthalates and bisphenols. Neither chemical is intentionally added to food, but can wind up there during production or leaching from packaging.
Nearly 300 food products were tested, an effort which took half a year. The group did not draw any conclusions from the results and urged others not to either, suggesting it is a starting point for further research.
From the foods studied, a lab tested 705 samples for 18 different chemicals. The foods, bought in the Bay Area, contained basic staples like water, milk, yogurt, produce and meat as well as fast food, sodas, snack bars and some brand-specific items like La Croix and local products like Tartine sourdough bread.
Phthalates and bisphenols have both been used for nearly 100 years, though there was a push to replace phthalates starting in the 1990s. The group tested for those substitute chemicals as well.
At least one of every chemical were found in every single food for infants, including baby food, prenatal supplements and human breast milk. Products from major brands like Starbucks, Gerber, Chobani, Coca-Cola and Ghiradelli also contained at least one of the chemicals.
Products from brands that push an upscale, healthy image weren’t immune either, with products from Whole Foods, organic produce and beef straight from the farm all tested positive for at least one of the chemicals tested.
The group found that less-processed foods contained fewer chemicals. It also found that hot food that was in a takeout container for 45 minutes had 34% higher levels of chemicals than the same dishes sampled directly at the restaurant.
Of the products tested, 22 exceeded the European Food Safety Authority’s limits for Bisphenol A. Unlike the Food and Drug Administration, the EFSA sets a tolerable daily intake limit for these chemicals. In the U.S., the FDA sets limits for packaging and production but generally does not set intake limits. The Environmental Protection Agency does set reference doses for safety, though they are not designed specifically for food.
The majority of foods tested were safe to eat by the standards of all three regulatory bodies.
A full list of foods tested can be found on the group’s website.
ygwzev