Plastic contamination of food poses health risks we can’t ignore. Overuse of plastic food storage has allowed toxic chemicals to seep into our diets in troubling ways. While plastic containers and wraps are convenient, studies increasingly show that tiny plastic particles and chemicals in plastic – like bisphenols and phthalates – can leach into the foods and beverages they contain.
Many of these chemicals are endocrine disruptors linked to health issues like reproductive issues, developmental delays, hormone imbalances and certain cancers. Exposure starts early in life and builds up over time, meaning the health effects can be most pronounced in children. Minimizing plastic where possible and choosing alternatives like glass is one of the easiest yet most impactful changes we can make for our families’ health. Every step we take to reduce plastic contamination contributes to a safer food system for all.
This article examines 8 serious dangers of plastic food storage containers and wraps in order to empower you to make more informed choices and assess areas in your kitchen where plastic use could be reduced. By gaining a broader understanding of the risks, you’ll be better equipped to take steps today to safeguard your loved one’s health tomorrow.
Bisphenol A (BPA)
Bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen-mimicking chemical used in many food storage containers and water bottles, poses health risks that are especially serious for children. First introduced as a plastic additive in the 1960s, BPA can leach into food and drink when these products are heated or subjected to acidic conditions.
Studies show that even minute BPA levels are enough to disrupt the endocrine system by mimicking estrogen. And BPA can easily cross the placenta during pregnancy, exposing fetuses and leading to developmental effects like immune system issues and respiratory problems in children.
Insufficient BPA-Free Label
The dangers of BPA replacements in “BPA-free” plastics. While products labeled “BPA-free” may seem safer, research shows that BPA replacements are not necessarily food-safe either. In some cases, the alternative chemicals used in so-called BPA-free plastics – like bisphenol S (BPS) – have been found to pose similar health risks as BPA.
For example, a 2018 study found that mice exposed to the BPA replacements BPS and bisphenol F (BPF):
- Had altered gene expression in reproductive tissues
- Exhibited decreased sperm counts and viability
- Produced eggs with reduced viability
These effects were able to pass to the next generation through epigenetic changes, demonstrating that BPA replacements can still have transgenerational reproductive effects.
While BPA-free labeling may imply safer products, research suggests that BPA replacements have not been adequately evaluated and may pose comparable health risks – especially for reproduction and development. This indicates a need for safer alternatives to all plastic food containers.
Asthma
BPA exposure and increased asthma risk in children, especially girls. Research increasingly suggests that exposure to BPA during fetal development may increase the risk of asthma in children, especially among girls. A 2022 study found that higher levels of BPA in pregnant women’s urine were associated with a 3-fold increased risk of asthma in their school-age daughters compared to mothers with lower BPA exposure. No significant association was found between maternal BPA levels and asthma in sons.
The researchers believe these findings may be due in part to BPA acting as an estrogen mimic, explaining the stronger effect observed on female children. BPA’s estrogen-like properties during early development could elicit long-term respiratory effects that contribute to asthma later in life, especially in females.
This study adds to the body of evidence linking BPA exposure to adverse health outcomes in children, such as allergies, wheezing and respiratory disease. More research is needed to confirm these associations and understand the underlying mechanisms involved. But the findings suggest that reducing BPA exposure during pregnancy may help lower asthma risk – particularly for daughters exposed in utero. Simple changes like choosing alternatives to plastic food storage could make a difference.
Plastic-Contaminated Food
Plastic food containers and wraps are a hidden source of health risks because chemicals in plastics can leach into the foods and drinks that come in contact with them.
When plastic products are used to store or heat food and beverages, certain chemicals they contain – like bisphenols, phthalates and adipates – can seep out of the plastic matrix and contaminate the contents inside. This process is known as leaching. Fatty foods are especially susceptible to chemical leaching from plastics. That’s because many of the chemicals found in plastic materials are lipophilic, meaning they easily dissolve into fats and oils. As a result, fatty foods like meats, cheeses and oils absorb more plastic chemicals compared to low-fat options.
The chemicals that leach out of plastic containers unnoticed into our food represent an invisible form of exposure. Once consumed, these chemicals enter our bodies where they can disrupt hormone function and contribute to health issues over time. Young children and babies who consume more plastic-packaged processed foods and juices relative to their body size face disproportionately high risks. To minimize chemical leaching from plastics, experts recommend using alternatives like glass for storing and reheating fatty or acidic foods. Storing fruits and vegetables in plastic produces less leaching but glass is still a safer choice whenever possible.
Water stored in plastic
Plastic water bottles left exposed to heat and UV rays are prone to releasing toxic chemicals like BPA into the water they contain. When plastic water bottles are left in direct sunlight or hot areas, the combination of heat and UV radiation can damage the outer layer of the plastic, allowing chemicals to leach out at higher rates.
A 2016 study found that plastic water bottles stored in the sun for 8 weeks released significantly higher levels of BPA and other hormone-disrupting chemicals compared to bottles stored in the dark at room temperature. The health risks of compounds leaching from plastic water bottles are considerable, especially for regular or long-term users:
- Exposure to BPA has been linked to disruption of the endocrine and reproductive systems, among other health effects.
- Phthalates, which can also leach from plastic, have been associated with decreased sperm quality and altered hormones in studies. Maintaining plastic water bottles in a cool place away from heat and light and replacing them regularly can help reduce chemical leaching. However, glass or stainless steel are ultimately safer alternatives for storing drinking water.
Unregulated Black Plastic
Black plastic food storage containers may contain higher levels of toxic chemicals due to lack of regulation and recycled material used in their production. A 2018 study found that 40% of tested black plastic products – including food containers – contained chemical levels that exceeded safety limits by 30 times.
Black plastic makes up 15% of plastic recyclables but finds few black plastic end products, meaning contaminated black plastic gets diverted into new products like food storage containers. To darken recycled plastic, manufacturers often add heavy metal pigments like chrome, nickel and lead. Research finds these black plastics can then leach metals into food and drinks at levels exceeding regulatory limits.
Other chemicals used to manufacture and darken black plastics – like phthalates and flame retardants – have also been found to leach out over time from food storage containers. While regulation of chemicals in food contact materials is limited, these findings underscore the potential health risks of plastic chemical exposure through black plastics use – particularly in cases of long-term and repeated use. Avoiding black plastic food storage and opting for glass or stainless steel alternatives when possible may help minimize exposure to harmful chemicals often found in recycled black plastics.
Obesity
Research suggests that exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like BPA and phthalates – commonly found in plastics – may increase the risk of obesity through interference with the body’s metabolic processes.
A 2021 review study found that EDCs like BPA and phthalates have been associated with:
- Altered adipocyte function and fat accumulation
- Disrupted leptin and insulin resistance, key hormones related to satiety and metabolism
- An imbalance in the gut microbiome which can impact metabolic health
These metabolic effects appear to occur at environmentally relevant EDC levels comparable to those found in the general population. The review study concluded that “exposure to EDCs, even at low doses, could be a risk factor for obesity.”
While more research is needed, the current evidence suggests that reducing exposure to EDCs through limiting plastic food storage and other sources could help lower obesity risk by safeguarding a healthy metabolic environment. Simple switches like choosing glass over plastic could make a difference over time.
Environmental Damage
Plastics are made from chemicals that make them resistant to natural decomposition – many plastics take hundreds or even thousands of years to degrade naturally. Thin plastics like food packaging and bags are too lightweight for traditional recycling, meaning most end up in landfills or as litter.
Even the production of new plastic products releases greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. The plastic industry is projected to account for 20% of global fossil fuel consumption by 2050 if left unchecked.
Microplastics from plastic waste also pollute the environment and enter the food chain, harming wildlife and accumulating up the food chain. Taken together, the environmental threats of plastic pollution indicate an unsustainable system that puts undue stress on the planet for future generations to solve. Reducing single-use plastics through reuse, refusal and responsible recycling remains critical to lessen plastic waste’s environmental impact.
