A Newly Discovered Reason to Avoid Fast Food and (microwave or pre-packaged) Popcorn
Perfluoroalkyls, which are chemicals used to keep grease from leaking
through fast food wrappers, are being ingested by people through their
food and showing up as contaminants in blood.
Perfluoroalkyls are stable, synthetic chemicals that repel oil,
grease, and water. They are used in surface protection treatments and
coatings for packages.
The specific chemicals studied were polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters
(PAPs), which are the breakdown products of the perfluorinated
carboxylic acids used in coating the food wrappers.
Common Dreams reports:
"The researchers used the PAP concentrations previously observed
in human blood together with the PAP and PFCA concentrations observed in
the rats to calculate human exposure to the chemical perflurooctanoic
acid, PFOA."
What Can You Do to Protect Your Health?
I strongly recommend avoiding any product you know contain these
toxic compounds, particularly non-stick cookware, but also foods sold in
grease-proof food packaging, such as fast food.
Clearly, if you're eating fast food, PFC's from the wrapper may be
the least of your problems, but I think it's still important to realize
that not only are you not getting proper nutrition from the food itself,
the wrappers may also add to your toxic burden.
Most important of all, however, is ditching your non-stick cookware,
because they're a MAJOR source of PFC's, particularly PFOA. The moment
you heat them, they start to liberate fluoride vapors that are so toxic
they will kill small birds!
Every time you cook with them, you inhale these chemicals, and the
food in the pan absorbs them too, turning every home-cooked meal
toxic ...