Martina Bouchard, ND.A.
December 2023
In Additives to Avoid Part 1, I outlined the health risks of direct additives, which are added directly into our foods. In this article, I will outline indirect additives, which are the additives put into food packaging, cookware, and/or food containers that leach into our foods.
To understand indirect additives, it is important to understand what endocrine disruptors are. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that may interfere and cause adverse effects on the endocrine system at any life-stage because of their resemblance with endogenous steroid hormones3. Meaning they function due to their hormone-like activity to increase, decrease, or mimic the production of the body’s naturally occurring hormones6. Altering hormones in the body is associated with a wide array of health issues6 which will be outlined below.
Bisphenol A
Bisphenol A or more commonly known as BPA, is a chemical produced in large quantities used primarily in the production of plastics1. BPA is found in various products such as water bottles, bottle tops, cutting boards, epoxy resins that coat some metal food cans to prevent corrosion, and polycarbonate plastic containers2. One study demonstrated that the global production of these chemicals increased 23.5-fold between 1947 and 20073.
BPA was the first “endocrine disrupting chemical” found in 1936 to have a powerful estrogenic effect that induces persistent epigenetic changes in the uterus3. Because this molecule mimics estrogen in the body, studies have linked prolonged exposure to BPA with breast cancer, reproductive problems, obesity, precocious puberty, and heart disease.3.
Child Exposure to BPA
Fetuses and young infants are commonly exposed to BPA by transplacental transfer of maternal BPA, and through ingestion of maternal milk or formula in plastic bottles containing BPA4. Some studies show that BPA exposure in early life stages may change the timing of puberty, decrease fertility, increase body fat, and possibly affect the nervous and immune systems5. Exposure to estrogen-like endocrine disruptors during critical stages of development can also interfere with normal hormonal signaling and may result in persistently altered gene expression4. The issue is that many of the estrogen-like effects of BPA persist well after exposure, resulting in permanent and life-long disruptions4.
BPA and Metabolic Disorders
BPA has also been found to have obesogenic activity as it triggers the conversion of cells to adipocytes (white fat cells)2. Meaning it increases the accumulation of fat in the body. Studies have demonstrated a strong link between obesity and BPA exposure, and chronic systemic inflammation which may lead to impaired glucose tolerance and decreased insulin sensitivity7. On top of that, BPA has been shown to cause intestinal dysbiosis in obese people through interference with estrogen receptors8. It causes lower levels of beneficial bacteria in the gut, which results in a decrease of leptin (your hunger hormone), and a dysregulation of lipid metabolism which results in lipid buildup in the liver8.
Reducing Your Exposure
What can you do to decrease your exposure to BPA? Choose fresh whole foods over packaged foods, and glassware to store your foods. Look for “BPA free” on labels and avoid plastics marked PC, recycling label #3 (phthalates) or #7 (BPA). Do not microwave your foods in plastic containers and wash plastic food container by hand. This is because heat causes plastics to leak BPA and phthalates into food5.
Phthalates
Another type of endocrine disruptor, phthalates, consist of a large group of chemicals frequently used in plastics (containers, clear plastic wrap, cutting boards), coating, coatings for medications, cosmetics, fragrances, paper bags and paperboard3. Cosmetics that may contain phthalates include nail polish, hair spray, lotions, perfumes, cleansers, and shampoo6.
Phthalates have four principal effects on health: endocrine disruption, obesogenic activity, increases oxidative stress, and cardiotoxicity2. Phthalates are metabolized into chemicals that influence the expression of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism that can lead to obesity and insulin resistance2. Studies repot that phthalates may also harm children’s developing brains10. Exposure may lead to difficulty with learning, and attention and behavioral disorders10. They have also been linked to changes in hormone levels leading to reduced sperm count and motility, birth defects in the male reproductive system and thyroid irregularities10.
Testosterone Reduction
Some phthalates are well known to be antiandrogenic (inhibits the production, activity, or effect of male sex hormones) and can affect fetal reproductive development2. This is because phthalates reduce testosterone levels which leads to an array of male reproductive problems9. Effects include malformations in organs needed for sperm development, abnormal urinary openings, and undescended testes9. Studies have suggested that current exposure levels are already high enough to affect male reproductive development and fertility9.
Reducing Your Exposure
To decrease your exposure to phthalates you can follow the instructions for BPA, as well as avoiding products that list phthalates or fragrance in the ingredients. You can use the Environmental Workings Group’s Skin Deep cosmetics database for personal care and cleaning products. And try to avoid fast foods – they contain high phthalate exposure because of the extensive use of plastics to product and serve these foods10.
Forever Chemicals
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as forever chemicals, are a large group of chemicals used for firefighting foam, cosmetics (i.e., dental floss, foundation, lip products, mascara), non-stick pans (such as Teflon), grease proof paper, and cardboard in food packaging6. The issue with PFAS is that they break down very slowly, if at all, and can contaminate water or food11. Both humans and animals are repeatedly exposed to them, and take in more chemicals than they excrete, causing blood levels of PFAS (and other chemicals) to bioaccumulate in bodies11.
Effects On Children
Biomonitoring studies have found PFAS in blood, breast milk, umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid, placenta and other tissues12. There is also a growing body of scientific research that has found links between PFAS exposure and a wide range of health issues12. PFAS are also seen to weaken the immune system in both laboratory and epidemiological studies. It has been found that children with higher exposure to PFAS have both poorer immune response to vaccines and increased childhood infections12.
Links to Metabolic Diseases
Studies in people have inked PFAS exposure to higher cholesterol, increased risk of fatty liver disease and disruption of the functioning of the liver, pregnancy-induced hypertension, reduced birth weight as well as thyroid dysfunction and disease12. It is important to note here that the thyroid hormone system is crucial for metabolism, digestion, muscle control, brain development, and bone strength5. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has marked PFAS has a possible carcinogen and noted that highly exposed populations have higher incidences of testicular and kidney cancer12.
Reducing Your Exposure
How can you reduce your exposure to forever chemicals? Avoid all non-stick pans and opt for stainless steel, cast iron, copper, or glass cookware. Stay away from Teflon or labels that include the words “fluoro” or “perfluoro”12. Read labels to check if there are PFAS, and avoid labels “PFOA-Free”, as it indicates that it is free of some but not all PFAS12. Reduce greasy or oily packaged and fast foods (i.e., microwave popcorn bags, fast food wrappers).
Pesticides
These chemicals merit their own article; however, they are still important as they are an additive to food that causes a plethora of health issues. Pesticides kill, repel, or control forms of animal and plant life that are thought to be a nuisance in agriculture and domestic life13. The term us used broadly and consist of herbicides (to destroy or control weeds), insecticides (to kill or control insects), and fungicides (to control fungi)13.
Health Canada indicates that sources of pesticide exposure may occur through food and water as pesticides are used primarily in agriculture14. They also mention how residues of pesticides can remain in or on the foods that have been treated, and contamination of drinking water sources may occur via drift, runoff or leaching through the soil14.
The concern with pesticides is that studies have linked pesticides to a plenitude of health issues ranging from Parkinson’s disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, kidney diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and shingles (among others)13. Evidence also suggests that children are particularly susceptible to adverse effects from exposure to pesticides13. Health Canada has linked pesticides to chronic toxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, genotoxicity and endocrine disruption14.
The risk posed by a pesticide depends on the toxicity of the pesticide, and the amount of pesticide the person is exposed to14. A pesticide with low toxicity and high exposure may cause similar risks as a pesticide with high toxicity and low exposure14. For example, organophosphate and carbamate pesticides can have immediate effects on the nervous system, with symptoms including weakness, cramps, breathing troubles, nausea, and vomiting15.
A Special Note on Glyphosate
Glyphosate is everywhere, roughly 826 million kilograms of glyphosate are used every year around the word, and is found in our food, soil, water, air and even rainfall16. In Canada, Roundup (the commercialised name for glyphosate), is sprayed on genetically modified fields throughout the season to clear out weeds and are also applied just before harvest on genetically modified and non-genetically modified crops16. It is this last spray just before harvest that results in higher levels of contamination in the foods we eat16. The most common crops are wheat, barley, oats, chickpeas, corn, soy, and canola, however there are still other crops it may be sprayed on16.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) tested food products for glyphosate and of the 3188 food products tested; 36.6% of grain products, 47.4% of bean, pea, and lentil products, 11% of soy products, and 31.7% of infant cereal products contained glyphosate16. It is important to note that some samples, principally the grain products, were found to contain levels above Health Canada’s “safe” limits16.
The Environmental Working Group considers 160 parts per billion (ppb) of glyphosate the safe limit for human consumption17. To raise awareness about potential daily exposure to glyphosate, the Environmental Defence and Équiterre commissioned the testing of common food products that children eat regularly16. The results revealed that 80% of the food products tested contained glyphosate16. To put this into perspective, Cheerios (the yellow-boxed breakfast cereal), contains 577 ppb of glyphosate, Fontaine Santé Roasted Garlic Hummus contains 760 ppb, PC Blue Menu 100% Whole Grain Tortillas contains 744 ppb, and Ritz Original crackers contains 569 ppb of glyphosate16. Visit this link if you wish to see the full article.
How To Avoid Them
To avoid extra exposure to pesticides, follow the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 Shopper's Guide. It contains the 12 fruits and vegetables that are most contaminated with pesticides, and the 15 that had the lowest amount of pesticide residues. This does not mean you shouldn’t eat foods from the Dirty Dozen list, rather it means it is crucial to buy organic in these cases. If you can, try to always choose organic, and wash your produce. The easiest way to remove pesticides from your produce is to soak your produce in 2 teaspoons of baking soda per 4 cups of water for 30 seconds, then rinse and wipe dry. My personal favourite way to reduce exposure to pesticides: grow your food at home and use non-chemical methods of pest control!
In short, there are several chemicals that interfere and lead to adverse effects on the endocrine system, and it is important to be aware of which may be harming you or your kids. The best way to avoid all additives are to choose organic whole foods, and to choose cookware and containers that do not contain chemicals that leach into foods. It is also important to keep yourself updated and informed about additives as there are new studies coming out regularly.
References Available Upon Request