Study reveals chemicals in food packaging that may increase risk of breast cancer

A study by the Food Packaging Forum discovered that certain chemicals in everyday food packaging may raise the risk of breast cancer.

They used research from the Silent Spring Institute on chemicals that may increase the risk of breast cancer. The Food Packaging Forum found 198 of those chemicals in common food packaging.

Jane Muncke is the chief scientific officer at the Food Packaging Forum. She hopes this study spreads awareness and  wants to see regulations changed to provide a safer world.

“People are not aware there are known hazardous chemicals in food packaging, that is important to know because if you know, you can avoid them," Muncke said. "One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, and there are factors which can contribute to causing breast cancer, but we know chemicals are one of them."

Jenny Kay is a research scientist with Silent Spring Institute. They created the list of hundreds of chemicals they believe could increase the risk of breast cancer. Kay believes these chemicals could be one reason breast cancer rates are rising in women under 50.

“Some other things people can do are to look for household products with the 'EPA Safer Choice Seal,'" Kay said. "That means those products are formulated with the chemicals the EPA identified as hazardous."

There are things you can do to limit your contact with these chemicals. Kay suggests eating fresh food, limiting takeout, storing food in glass and not using plastic with hot food.

To learn more about the study, click here .