Whether it is burgers loaded with saturated fat or french fries with calorie counts that are through the roof, it is no surprise that fast food isn’t too great for us. But if the nutritional information isn’t enough to keep you away, maybe this will: new research shows that chemicals from wrappers and packaging are now showing up in the bodies of people who eat fast food.
The study, which was conducted by environmental chemists at the University of Toronto, shows that synthetic chemicals called perfluoroalkyls are leaching out of fast food packaging and into the food. During their testing, researchers looked particularly at perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), a result of the break down of polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters (PAPs). These chemicals have been shown to increase cholesterol and uric acid levels in humans (which could lead to gout, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes). High exposure to PFCAs has also lead to cancer in rats.
So why are these chemicals found in fast food packaging in the first place? PFCAs are responsible for making sure grease doesn’t seep through fast food wrappers. So basically, because the food is so bad for you in the first place (i.e., dripping in grease), there is the necessity to wrap it in equally unhealthy packaging. Bon appetit.
Story via Raw Story
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