I just learned about the potential dangers hidden in pizza boxes. I want to share this information with you because pizza delivery has become such a staple as a work-night dinner option for many families. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently published a final rule banning three chemicals used in many pizza boxes and food packaging. Paper companies use perfluoroalkyl ethyl in food contact substances that act as oil and water repellents for paper and paperboard, which come in contact with watery and fatty foods. In other words, it prevents soggy pizza boxes. The FDA concludes that “new data is available that shows there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the food-contact use of these chemicals.”
If you like to probe into the scientific details, read these two articles.
Paper Box Chemicals No Longer Considered Safe by FDA for Contact With Food
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Monday announced it plans to publish a final rule banning three chemicals used in many pizza boxes and other food packaging. In response to a petition filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Center for Food Safety, the Breast Cancer Fund, the Center for Environmental Health, Clean Water… Read more here… foodsafetynews.com
FDA Takes Steps To Ban Chemicals In Pizza Boxes
In a curious case in which a petition to the government actually succeeds in achieving its aims, the FDA entered into the Federal Registry a final rule that will, barring any weird complications, ban a few chemicals commonly used in pizza boxes and other food packaging. Now, Food Safety News alerts us that the petition has been successful. There have also been a handful of studies in the past decade or so examining the potential toxicity and danger of these substances; the EPA has actually compiled a brief that lists these and similar substances as “emerging contaminants,” meaning there’s a pretty fair chance these are not totally safe. Read more here… modernfarmer.com
What can you do in the meantime? First, don’t order delivery pizza; instead, go and pick up your order. When you pick up your order, take your container to bring home your dinner. Or take wax paper and ask the pizzeria employees to put your pizza on the wax paper, not directly on the box. I know these steps may remove the convenience side of your work-night dinner, but at least your pizza won’t come into contact with a 19-letter chemical that you can’t pronounce. (Well, I certainly can’t pronounce it.)
Editorial Update: We strive to keep our content accurate and up-to-date. As part of our ongoing efforts, this article has been moved from Health to WELLNESS & SELF-CARE on 09/11/2023.
