Global Quick Service Restaurant chain McDonald’s has announced a worldwide motion to remove PFAS chemicals from all consumer packaging in all restaurants by 2025.
McDonald’s have over the years had numerous calls by consumers
PFAS are chemicals used to impart stain, grease, and water resistance to food packaging, carpeting, upholstery, and apparel. Scientists have found links between exposures to PFAS and a wide range of health problems. A consortium of scientists recently published a new scientific emphasising the dangerous health impacts of PFAS and other toxic chemicals in food packaging, noting how easily these chemicals migrate out of packaging. Toxic exposures continue even after the packaging is disposed of. Evidence shows that these chemicals can make their way back to people through drinking water, food, and air. Food crops and gardens can become polluted with PFAS-containing compost, as shown from research demonstrating plants taking up PFAS from soil. Scientists often refer to PFAS as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment.
It will be interesting to see the impact this has on the wider foodservice packaging sector.
