A commentary published in Globalization and Health on October 24, 2024, explores the connection between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and plastics, and the dual threats they pose to both human health and the environment. Joe Yates from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK, and co-authors from institutions around the world, including the Food Packaging Forum, discuss how the lifecycles of UPFs and plastics are intricately linked, amplifying their harmful impacts on consumers and ecosystems.
Cheap, lightweight, and highly functional, plastics have enabled business models to create demand for low-cost, mass-produced, and hyper-palatable UPFs among populations worldwide.
UPFs—industrially manufactured food products designed to be highly palatable—rely heavily on plastics throughout their production and distribution processes. This co-dependence helps food companies maintain low production costs and high profit margins. However, this convenience comes at a cost: plastics used in UPF packaging and processing often contain thousands of chemicals that can migrate into the food (FPF reported). Many of these chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA, CAS 80-05-7), phthalates, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are linked to endocrine disruption, cancer, and other health issues (FPF reported, also here).
The impact of UPFs on health is already well-established, with evidence linking their consumption to higher risks of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases. The researchers argue that the widespread use of plastic in UPF packaging further exacerbates these health risks by introducing additional toxic exposures (FPF reported). They caution that the scale of these harms is underappreciated, with many chemicals detected in both humans and the broader environment, while others remain untested (FPF reported) or inadequately tested for their long-term effects (FPF reported).
In the broader environmental context, the production and disposal of plastics contributes significantly to climate change, emitting 1.1 gigatons of greenhouse gases annually. Furthermore, the report states that most plastic packaging, particularly the type used for UPFs, is difficult to recycle, with less than 10% of plastics being successfully recycled worldwide (FPF reported). This has led to an increase in plastic pollution (FPF reported, here and here), including microplastics that have now been detected in human blood and other tissues (FPF reported and here).
The authors of the commentary call for a more ambitious global approach to tackling plastic pollution, suggesting that the ongoing negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty offer a vital opportunity (FPF reported). They encourage negotiators to go beyond recycling and focus on reducing plastic production, eliminating harmful chemicals, and promoting safer, more sustainable materials (FPF reported). They stress the need for systemic changes, stronger regulations, and enhanced transparency from food and plastics industries to protect consumers and the planet.
This discussion is especially relevant given the ongoing negotiations for a global plastics treaty under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The next session, INC-5, is set to take place in Busan, Republic of South Korea, from November 25 to December 1, 2024.
Reference
Joe Yates, et al. (2024). “A toxic relationship: ultra-processed foods & plastics.” Globalization & Health. DOI: 10.1186/s12992-024-01078-0
