Do you like your burgers well done with a side of plastic?
Probably not. But a new study suggests that fast food often comes with a sizable helping of plastic-softening chemicals that could potentially lead to hormone disruption, infertility and learning disabilities.
At issue are phthalates and other so-called "replacement plasticizers." Manufacturers use these chemicals to help soften the plastics found in products that are routinely used when handling food. Those include gloves, conveyor belts, packaging, wrapping and tubes.
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The problem: phthalates and their plasticizer cousins don't seem to stay in their lane, easily migrating into the foods with which they come into contact. The study's researchers warn that between 70% and 86% of the fast foods they tested contained some type of phthalate or plasticizer.
"We think our findings suggest that phthalates and replacement plasticizers are widespread in fast food meals," study author Lariah Edwards says. She's a postdoctoral scientist in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health in Washington, D.C.
The finding didn't strike Edwards as particularly surprising, given that items sold at fast-food chains "are so heavily processed, packaged and handled."
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Edwards also warns consumers that fast-food chains aren't the only problem. "It is not only [about] processed foods" at fast-food chains -- any food that's handled in any restaurant setting can be exposed to such chemicals", she notes.
How do phthalates affect your health?
Edwards stresses that this is a significant concern. "Since fast food meals are such a large part of the American diet," and because "phthalates are known to disrupt hormones in humans, and are linked to a long list of health problems, such as
reproductive and children's neurodevelopmental effects."
Phthalates can damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system.
What the study shows
Both the food and the gloves were tested for 11 different types of phthalates and plasticizers. Ten of the 11 chemicals were found in the tested foods.
More than 80% of the food samples were found to contain a phthalate known as DnBP, while 86% contained a plasticizer known as DEHT, which is commonly found in food gloves. About 70% contained a phthalate known as DEHP.
Cheeseburgers, chicken burritos and other meat products had the highest phthalate/plasticizer content, with much higher DEHT levels detected in burritos than in burgers.
On the upside, cheese pizzas were among the least contaminated foods, while French fries were found to be DEHT-free.
How to reduce exposure
1. Limit meat intake
Meanwhile, one thing that people can do to limit potential risk is to "eat lower on the food chain." That, according to Edwards, basically means limiting meat intake.
"Many fast-food chains rely on meats, chicken and fish or other foods that are preformed, partially cooked, then frozen, packaged in plastic, and shipped to the restaurant site to be finished at the time of order," Sandon notes. "This gives plenty of time for these foods to sit wrapped in plastic."
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2. Eat at home
Edwards and her colleagues point to their own prior research, which suggests that home cooking is the safer bet, since people tend not to use problematic plastic gloves and packaging when prepping food in their own kitchen.
The solution, according to Sandon, is "eating less fast food and less food, in general, that is packaged in plastic. Prepare more fresh foods at home using fresh meats, chicken, or fish and produce."
3. Be aware of all the food you are consuming
Even relatively healthy food options are not immune to plastic exposure, she adds, noting that "organic or not, the risk persists if the food is stored in plastic that has these chemicals."
Lastly, when storing your food; opt for glass food storage containers, and choose bottles and sippy and snack cups that are mostly stainless steel, silicone, or glass. You should also never heat your food in plastic.
