Food packaging and endocrine disruptors

Objectives

Narrative review evaluating food contamination by endocrine disruptors present in food packaging.

Data source

The terms “endocrine disruptors” and “food packaging” were used in combination in the PubMed, MEDLINE and SciELO databases, evaluating studies, in humans, published in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish between 1990 and 2023.

Data synthesis

Packaging, especially those made from plastic or recycled material, is an important source of food contamination by endocrine disruptors. Bisphenols and phthalates are the endocrine disruptors most frequently associated with food contamination from packaging. However, many unknown substances and even those legally authorized can cause harm to health when exposure is prolonged or when substances with additive effects are mixed. Furthermore, the discarding of packaging can cause contamination to continue into the environment.

Conclusion

Although packaging materials are essential for the transport and storage of food, many of them are associated with chemical contamination. As it is not possible to exclude them from our routine, it is important to develop research aimed at identifying the endocrine disruptors present in them, including the effects of chronic exposure; and that regulatory agencies and industry come together to reduce or prevent this risk. Additionally, consumers must be instructed on how to purchase products, handle them and prepare them to reduce the migration of chemical substances into food.