A study published on March 6, 2023, by Heather Whitehead and Graham Peaslee from the University of Notre Dame found evidence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) migrating from fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic containers into food. The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters. After seven days of leaching, PFAS concentrations were measured to range from 2.66 to 7.19 ng/g plastic for food matrices including olive oil, ketchup, and mayonnaise. Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) were among the most frequently detected with the highest concentrations. “Ingestion of food stored in these containers could be a significant source of exposure [to PFAS]” the authors state.
In an earlier investigation by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from January 14, 2023, the agency found significant concentrations of PFAS in pesticides stored in fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers (FPF reported). The results from the Whitehead and Peaslee study now establish that in a lab environment, leaching of PFAS from fluorinated HDPE containers also takes place into foodstuffs.
“It’s important to note that these types of containers are not intended for food storage, but there is nothing preventing them from being used for food storage at the moment” informs the University’s press release. The authors argue that new use regulations are warranted to control potential consumer exposures to PFAS through fluorinated HDPE food containers should they be on the market.
Reference
Whitehead, H.D. and Peaslee, G.F. (2023). “Directly fluorinated containers as source of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids.” Environmental Science and Technology Letters. DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00083
Read more
Jessica Sieff (March 7, 2023). “Plastic containers can contain PFAS — and it’s getting into food.” University of Notre Dame.
Environmental Protection Agency (January 14, 2021). “EPA takes action to investigate PFAS contamination.”
