Nearly 200 compounds linked to breast cancer found in food packaging, tableware

We've got to stop doing this to ourselves

Brian Bienkowski 

An estimated 189 compounds linked to breast cancer are found in food packaging and tableware, according to a new study.

The study, published today in the Frontiers in Toxicology journal, comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — which is responsible for regulating potentially harmful substances in food and packaging — is reassessing how they manage chemicals in food additives and packaging, something that health researchers have long called for.

In the new study, researchers compared the Food Packaging Forum’s database on potentially harmful chemicals that can migrate out of food packaging and tableware to a recently published list of chemicals linked to breast cancer — including PFAS, bisphenols such as BPA and phthalates — developed by the Silent Spring Institute.

They found 189 potential mammary carcinogens in food contact materials, with 143 of these found in plastics and 89 found in paper or cardboard.

“This study is important, because it shows that there is a huge opportunity for prevention of human exposure to breast cancer-causing chemicals,” said Jane Muncke, managing director of the Food Packaging Forum and co-author of the study, in a statement. “The potential for cancer prevention by reducing hazardous chemicals in your daily life is underexplored and deserves much more attention.”

Muncke and colleagues pointed out that breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer for women around the world. While the study was not set up to prove whether there is any relationship between cancer rates and food packaging and tableware, it does open the door for research exploring possible links and prevention strategies.

The study underscores a situation “that likely should have been mitigated by existing regulations,” said Lindsey Parkinson, data scientist and scientific editor at the Food Packaging Forum and co-author of the study, in a statement.

Prepare your social media for the election

3 tips to stay sane and connected without being overwhelmed

Chelsea Butkowski, American University School of Communication

There’s a lot of information out there to sort through, so be prepared. 

Richard Drury/DigitalVision via Getty Images

As the presidential election approaches, the race is ramping up – including on social media. Although Meta reported in 2022 that only about 3% of the content on Facebook is political, Americans have already begun bracing themselves for a deluge of political news stories, ads, AI deepfakes and arguments on their feeds over the next few weeks.

Elections are stressful, and they tend to exacerbate Americans’ adverse mental health symptoms. For some people, social media can amplify political stressors.

Despite the tensions building on users’ digital feeds, an impending election doesn’t mean that people need to avoid social media altogether. When used wisely, social media can still be an important source for political information and an outlet to express opinions. I’ve studied how people navigate social media during elections, and I want to share three strategies to help you prepare your accounts for this election season so you can stay connected to what’s important without drowning in partisan back-and-forth.