++ PFAS stands for PolyFlouroAlkyl Substances
These chemicals are resistant to grease oil, and water. This makes them effective coatings for, among other things, containers and wrappers for foods, including fast foods and microwavable popcorn; both on the container itself, and in the ink used for printing on it. They are also found in stain-resistant or water-repellant coatings for a variety of household items and some clothing, nonstick cookware, and some kinds of paints and cosmetic items.
The bad news is that they can migrate into food. This is a concern because evidence is increasing that they can contribute to high blood pressure, liver damage, cancer, immune suppression, etc. They also decompose very slowly, so they last a long time in your body - and in the landfill that accepts your trash. New substitutes, for example with smaller molecules, are not much better, but can give people a false sense of increased safety. There a many varieties of PHAS, and tests are available for only a few, which can give rise to misleading statistics about their presence in a food. Don't be mislead!
++ So, what can you do?
- To limit how much migrates into your foods, don't store or reheat food in the original wrapper.
- Patronize restaurants and other retailers who have pledged to reduce use of PFAS. You can often find this information of their websites or on the websites of consumer protection organizations.
- Try to limit your exposure to non-food sources.
