We might have to start looking for plastic packaging alternatives after scientists from Norway discovered nearly 10,000 different chemicals in a single piece of product.
In 2024, we are starting to fully grasp the effects of plastic on the environment around us. But plastic doesn’t just sit there, in fact, it breaks down into microplastics and then nanoplastics. These microscopic pieces of waste have been recorded everywhere from plastic water bottles to human placenta.
Plastic packaging is not as safe as we think
In a new study published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal, researchers from Norway analyzed 36 different plastic food packaging from Germany, Norway, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Shockingly, they discovered that nearly all of the packaging contained substances capable of affecting the body’s hormones and metabolism.
Through a battery of lab testing, the team was able to extract and analyze chemicals that changed receptors for estrogen, testosterone, and metabolic regulators. Of course, these receptors play an important part in your overall health.
Through their testing, the researchers identified 33 out of the 36 plastic products activated the pregnane X receptor, which helps to regulate blood sugar and detoxify foreign substances. A further 23 products activated a receptor known for fat cell development, 14 blocked testosterone receptors, and 18 mimicked estrogen.
What to store your food
“We found as many as 9,936 different chemicals in a single plastic product used as food packaging,” said study author Martin Wagner, a professor in NTNU’s Department of Biology. “These and previous findings show that plastic exposes us to toxic chemicals. They support the theory that we need to redesign plastic to make it safer.”
Admittedly, it would be extremely difficult to live without any plastic packaging, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. In the meantime, and in a bid to reduce your overall plastic use, consider transferring grocery store products into packaging made from glass, stainless steel, or even bamboo. The same could be said for reheating food or placing hot food inside plastic packaging.
Ultimately, one of the best ways to avoid plastic packaging is to make a conscious effort to buy most of your food fresh.
