A shocking study last week found that lovers of lobster, shrimp and sushi may be at high risk of permanent chemical poisoning.
The researchers behind the study warned that shellfish may be an underestimated source of toxic substances, which have been strongly linked to cancer.
But a graphic from DailyMail.com shows how ubiquitous chemicals lurk in almost every food group, including those considered healthy.
There is no safe level of exposure to permanent chemicals and they have been linked to multiple cancers, asthma, fertility problems, obesity, birth defects, diabetes and autism.
The image is based on the results of tests carried out by regulatory bodies, which have analyzed the levels of PFAS and other permanent chemicals in edible products.
The product with the highest amount of phthalates, a type of chemical permanently used to make plastics, was Annie’s Organic Canned Cheese Ravioli, which contained 53,580 nanograms of phthalates per serving.
Phthalates can be found in the lining of canned goods and plastic containers and can leach into the food itself.
They are known as hormone disruptors and have been linked to breast cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, cardiac and respiratory complications, and neurological and behavioral problems.
Consumers who want to avoid chemicals should look for “BPA free” on product labels.
Other products with the highest levels included Del Monte canned peaches (25,000), Chicken of the Sea canned pink salmon (24,320); and Fairlife protein milk, which comes in a plastic bottle (20,450).
Like Annie’s canned ravioli, these products are likely high in phthalates because they are packaged in cans or plastic material.
High levels were found in products from all food and drink groups, with no categories such as dairy or meat, more likely to contain permanent chemicals than others.
Poland Spring water in plastic bottles contained 4,200 nanograms of phthalates per serving. Yoplait low-fat yogurt in a plastic container contained nearly 11,000 nanograms of the permanent chemical.
Heart-healthy Cheerios in a plastic bag inside a cardboard box also contained approximately 11,000 nanograms.
Not even baby food was immune to toxins. Gerber food in a glass jar and Similac baby formula in a can had about 4,200 nanograms of phthalates per serving.
Permanent chemicals aren’t just found in store-bought food products: Another category of permanent substances, PFAS, was detected at dangerous levels in food containers.
PFAS, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are microscopic substances that take thousands of years to break down in the environment or the human body.
They are found in textiles, firefighting foam, nonstick cookware, clothing, and grease-resistant food packaging, where they can leach into food.
The graphic above from Toxic Free Future shows how toxic PFAS chemicals find their way into food products.
There is no safe level of exposure to the chemicals and PFAS have been linked to multiple cancers, asthma, fertility problems, obesity, birth defects, diabetes and autism.
When ingested through food, it is unclear how many chemicals are broken down by the body or released naturally during the digestive process. But the CDC says that between 2 and 20 nanograms per milliliter of blood can cause adverse health problems.
A separate CR report When investigating the presence of these 118 fast food wrappers and containers, their total organic fluoride content was analyzed, which is considered the simplest way to evaluate the total PFAS content of a material.
Sixty-three items had detectable levels of organic fluoride with 22 of them having 100 or more parts per million and 15 having 20 or more ppm.
A 2023 policy in California now requires paper food packaging to have less than 100 ppm organic fluoride.
CR experts support a limit of 20 ppm.
The most contaminated packaging was the green side bag from Nathan’s Famous at 876 ppm. Nathan’s Famous Red Side Bag followed (618 ppm); Chick-fil-A sandwich wrap wrapper (553.5 ppm); Cava fiber tray for children’s meals (548); and cava de copa fiber (508.3 ppm).
While PFAS seem to be ubiquitous, there are ways to reduce your exposure, such as not reheating food in its original packaging, transferring takeout from its original container and storing it in glass or silicone containers, and choosing companies that have committed to reduce the use of PFAS in their products.
Additional tests conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council on clothing, footwear and accessories gave 14 companies F grades regarding the use of PFAS in their products.
The NRDC asked companies a series of questions related to PFAS and their clothing, including whether they had policies limiting or prohibiting the use of PFAS or whether they had plans to remove the chemicals from their products.
Based on their responses, the brands received a rating from the NRDC.
Among those receiving a failing grade were REI, Columbia Sportswear, Macy’s, Walmart, Nordstrom, Kate Spade, Under Armour, Skechers and Michael Kors.
And ToxicFreeFuture.org found PFAS in pillow protectors from Amazon, mattress protectors from Costco, stain-resistant bedding from Macy’s, and a sheet set from Target.
The test results may paint a bleak picture of the chemicals Americans consume every day, but CR said the levels of some substances were lower than when it tested similar products in 2009.
“This suggests that we are at least moving in the right direction on bisphenols,” said Dr. James Rogers, who oversees product safety testing at Consumer Reports.