06/06/2025 / By Olivia Cook
A growing number of scientists are raising concerns about synthetic chemicals that sneak into food from packaging, processing equipment and storage containers. These aren’t ingredients you see on the food label – but they’re ending up in your meals all the same.
A peer-reviewed study published in Nature Medicine reveals that these so-called food contact chemicals (FCCs), along with industrial additives and microplastics, may be fueling a rise in chronic illnesses, like diabetes, hormone disruption, obesity, reproductive issues and even cancer.
It’s no secret that ultra-processed foods – think boxed meals, candies, hot dogs or microwave dinners – aren’t winning awards for nutrition. But what you may not know is that these foods also carry more synthetic chemicals, some of which leach into your meals through “normal” industry practices, like packaging, storing and heating.
Among the most common offenders:
Dr. Sanjay Rajagopalan, a cardiovascular researcher, recently pointed out that these particles have been found “in just about every portion of your body… no organ is spared.” That includes your arteries, heart, lungs and even your brain and placenta.
Worse yet, these aren’t rare exposures: studies estimate that 98 percent of Americans already have PFAS in their blood.
One big reason these chemicals are still in circulation? Regulatory loopholes.
Thanks to an outdated system called GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe), food companies can self-approve chemical additives without formal review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means thousands of chemicals have entered the food system under the radar – some with disturbing health effects.
That’s why consumer advocacy groups like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) are stepping in to help. (Related: Lawmakers urge Federal Trade Commission to take action against ONLINE ADS for junk foods.)
To help everyday shoppers avoid the most concerning additives in the U.S. food supply, the EWG created the “Dirty Dozen Guide to Food Chemicals.” These 12 substances are commonly found in processed foods – but many have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive issues and other serious health risks.
Here’s the full list:
Health tip: If any of these appear on your ingredient labels – or if a food has a long list of hard-to-pronounce chemicals – it might be worth skipping.
You may not be able to control the entire food system, but you can make more informed choices in your daily life.
Read more stories like this at FoodScience.news.
Watch this video comparing the ingredients of foods in the U.S. and Europe.
This video is from Your News Now (YNN) channel on Brighteon.com.
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