A study reveals that chemicals associated with breast cancer are leaching into our food

Nearly 200 chemicals associated with breast cancer are used in food packaging and plastic tableware, with many of these carcinogens capable of migrating into the human body, a new study has revealed.

“There is strong evidence that 76 known or potential breast carcinogens from food contact materials recently purchased worldwide can be found in people,” stated Jane Muncke, co-author of the study and managing director of the Food Packaging Forum, a Zurich-based nonprofit focused on scientific communication and research.

“Eliminating these known or suspected carcinogens from our food supply presents a significant opportunity for cancer prevention,” Muncke added.

Of the chemicals identified in food packaging, 40 are already classified as hazardous by regulatory agencies globally, according to the study.

“Many of these chemicals are recognised as human health hazards, yet they remain permissible in food contact materials, enabling them to migrate into our food,” said Jenny Kay, a research scientist at the Silent Spring Institute, an organisation studying the link between chemicals, women’s health, and breast cancer. She did not participate in the study.

The incidence of early-onset breast cancer in women under 50 is rising, and experts assert that genetics cannot solely account for this trend.

“Rates of colon cancer are also increasing in younger populations,” noted Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, former deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, who was not involved in the research.

“Is it obesity? Alcohol consumption? Lack of physical activity? Environmental factors? There are numerous possibilities,” Lichtenfeld said, “and it will take time to determine which factors are most impactful, as some of these chemicals may pose a higher risk than others.”

The Consumer Brands Association, representing the consumer products sector, informed CNN that its members adhere to the safety standards set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Packaging is designed to protect food and ensure its safety for consumption,” said Sarah Gallo, the association’s senior vice president for product policy and federal affairs.

“The FDA evaluates and approves food contact substances through a science and risk-based system before they reach the market,” Gallo stated. “The agency’s post-market review also ensures ongoing safety analysis and regulation of approved substances.”

The FDA has faced criticism for its slow response to health concerns regarding approximately 14,000 chemicals known to be added to food. The agency will hold a public meeting on Wednesday to discuss improvements to its post-market food analyses.

Potential Breast Carcinogens

In 2007, Silent Spring published a list of 216 chemicals capable of inducing mammary tumours in rodents, a key method for assessing toxicity, according to experts.

An update in January 2024 identified 921 potentially carcinogenic chemicals, including 642 that may stimulate estrogen or progesterone production, known risk factors for breast cancer.

“The presence of so many potential breast carcinogens in food packaging, which can migrate into our food, highlights the multitude of chemicals to which we are unknowingly exposed every day,” said Kay, who co-authored the 2024 study update published in *Environmental Health Perspectives*.

“Many mammary carcinogens are also hormone disruptors, and numerous chemicals on our list can damage DNA,” she noted. “Consumers should not be expected to navigate the scientific literature on which chemicals to avoid; regulators must recognise the danger and take action.”