A study by the EAE Business School found that the consumption of fast food in Spain , as well as in the main countries of the world, grew significantly during 2015 . In our country, the fast food sector had a turnover of 3,226 million euros and the study predicts that it will increase by 50% in the next 5 years. A series of problems arise from this type of diet. As is known, it is not the healthiest solution, due to its high fat and calorie content. But now we also know from research carried out in collaboration between several American organizations and universities and published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters that some of the containers that are often used to store this type of fast food contain harmful chemicals that can leach into food.
The study was based on the analysis of more than 400 samples of these products in the United States that included paper wrappers, cardboard and beverage containers from 27 fast food chains around the country. According to the results, almost 50% of the paper containers used to wrap hamburgers and 20% of the cardboard ones for potatoes or pizzas, contain a type of chemical products called PFAS (polyunsaturated and perfluorinated substances), also known as PFC (perfluorinated compounds). These chemicals have been linked to cancer episodes, thyroid disease, low birth weight, or decreased fertility , among other ailments.
According to Laurel Schaider, lead author of the study and an environmental chemist at the Spring Institute in Denver, “The health effects are especially dangerous for children as they are more vulnerable to toxic chemicals.” The perfluorinated in particular are ubiquitous in everyday objects such as pans (so that food does not stick), clothing or paper. They are useful thanks to their waterproof, non-stick and fire retardant properties, but several studies have found that high levels of these chemicals are bad for your health , especially if they are found in food. Some of these products, the most widely used, have already begun to be regulated by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), which sets the daily limit per kilo of person for these substances.
