It is bad news for all the fast food lovers, meaning no cheese burger with fries tonight, as you could be exposed to potentially dangerous levels of industrial chemicals, says research.
According to Bloomberg, a study conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control suggest that fast food may expose public to certain chemicals, called phthalates, as per ToxTown, “Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to soften and increase the flexibility of plastic and vinyl. Polyvinyl chloride is made softer and more flexible by the addition of phthalates.”
These chemicals, don’t occur in nature, and are commonly used in cosmetics, soap, food packaging, flooring, window blinds, and other consumer products.
The Centers for Disease Control says "phthalate exposure is widespread in the U.S. population."
The research was of the view that fast food is a particular hotspot for these chemicals, which gets add up into food through machinery used in processing or packaging, or from gloves worn by workers.
As per Daily Mail, Ami Zota, lead author and Assistant Professor of Milken Institute School of Public Health in US says, “People who ate the most fast food had phthalate levels that were as much as 40 per cent higher.”
“Our findings raise concerns because phthalates have been linked to a number of serious health problems in children and adults,” added Zota.
Dr Zota informed DEHP and DiNP, which are two phthalates are still used despite risks that they leach out of products and get into the human body. Studies have suggested they can damage the reproductive system, leading to infertility.
She added, “People concerned about this issue can't go wrong by eating more fruits and vegetables and less fast food. A diet filled with whole foods offers a variety of health benefits that go far beyond the question of phthalates.”
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