Steve Hoffman 10/4/24 Steve Hoffman 10/4/24

Food Contact Chemicals Used in Production and Packaging Are Finding Their Way Into Humans

This article first appeared in the October 2024 issue of Presence Marketing’s newsletter.

By Steven Hoffman

Researchers working with the Food Packaging Forum discovered that of the roughly 14,000 known chemicals that are used in food manufacturing and packaging, approximately 25% or 3,601 of these food contact chemicals (FCCs) have been found in the human body. The chemicals include bisphenol, PFAS, phthalates, metals, volatile organic compounds, and many others that have been linked to endocrine system disruption, diabetes, obesity, neurodevelopment disorders, cancer and other diseases.

The study, Evidence for Widespread Human Exposure to Food Contact Chemicals, published in September 2024 in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, comprehensively searched biological data collections for detections of FCCs in humans, such as from samples of blood, urine, skin, and breast milk. The data is now assembled and available in a public listing with an interactive search tool.

“Our research helps to establish the link between food contact chemicals and human exposure, highlights chemicals that are overlooked in biomonitoring studies and supports research into safer food contact materials,” lead author Birgit Geueke, Ph.D., and Senior Scientific Officer at the Food Packaging Forum, said in a news release.

When the research team reviewed scientific literature to learn what is known about FCCs detected in humans, they concluded there is a broad lack of knowledge of the effect of these chemicals on human health, and the potential hazards of many of these chemicals have not yet been sufficiently investigated. For other chemicals that migrate from packaging into the food, such as synthetic antioxidants and oligomers (a type of non-intentionally added substance that may be present in plastic food contact materials), the authors pointed out that little is known about their presence in and impact on humans.

“Many of these FCCs have hazard properties of concern, and still others have never been tested for toxicity,” the researchers wrote. “Humans are known to be exposed to FCCs via foods, but the full extent of human exposure to all FCCs is unknown.” It also is likely that the actual number of FCCs in humans is even higher because only a subset of FCCs was investigated in detail, noted the study’s authors.

Dr. Jane Muncke, co-author of the study, expressed concern over such widespread chemical exposure, stating, "This work highlights the fact that food contact materials are not fully safe, even though they may comply with regulations, because they transfer known hazardous chemicals into people. We would like this new evidence base to be used for improving the safety of food contact materials—both in terms of regulations but also in the development of safer alternatives."

The Great Chemical Migration
From shrink wrap and takeout containers to plastic bottles and coated paperboard packaging, scientists have known for years that chemicals can migrate out of food packaging into the food itself. We all know not to microwave food in plastic packaging, as high temperatures can cause the plastic to leach into the food. Foods high in fat or acidity also tend to absorb more chemicals from packaging, reported the Washington Post. Foods packed into smaller containers have increased risk of chemical crossover, too — Muncke shared with the Washington Post that on a recent flight she was given a tiny container of salad dressing. “They served the salad with a 15ml little plastic bottle with olive oil and vinegar that you could pour over. I thought, ‘Well, I’m not doing that,’” she said.

Muncke also shared with the Washington Post that while most of the chemicals leaching from food packaging come from plastics, “Probably the worst one is recycled paper and cardboard. And I know that’s a hard one to stomach.” Recycling paper, cardboard or plastic for food packaging leads to non-food grade inks mixed in next to food, she said, adding to the chemical exposure risks. However, in a positive regulatory move, FDA announced in February 2024 that paper and paperboard food packaging coated with grease-proofing PFAS chemicals would no longer be sold in the U.S.

In January 2024, Consumer Reports published an investigation into plasticizers used in food packaging to make plastic containers softer, more flexible and durable. Phthalate compounds — the ones most commonly used as a plasticizer — are so ubiquitous that it has been reported that 95% of all humans have detectable levels of phthalates in their urine. What Consumer Reports found in tests of nearly 100 foods was that bisphenol and phthalates are widespread in food products. “We found them in almost every food we tested, often at high levels. The levels did not depend on packaging type, and no one particular type of food — say, dairy products or prepared meals — was more likely than another to have them,” Consumer Reports said. From canned sliced fruit to pasta to yogurt containers, the investigation found high levels of phthalates in the packaging. Some organic products the consumer advocacy group tested also were not immune to high levels phthalates detected in product packaging.

In addition to packaging, foods are often subject to chemical exposure in the production, manufacturing and potentially in the transport process. According to Consumer Reports, while early efforts to limit food exposure to such chemicals focused on packaging, “…it’s now clear that phthalates in particular can also get in from the plastic in the tubing, conveyor belts and gloves used during food processing, and can even enter directly into meat and produce via contaminated water and soil.”

Leah Segedie, founder of consumer advocacy group Mamavation, has conducted PFAS investigations into a number of different consumer products, and also to provide consumers with guidance in searching for products free of such chemicals. In 2022, she released a report about PFAS contamination of pasta sauces, both organic and conventional. Out of the 55 different pasta sauces she tested in 2021, 17 were organic and four of those, or approximately 25%, had detectable levels of PFAS.

“I believe that PFAS contamination of organic products is also taking place during the manufacturing process and when products get transported,” Segedie told Max Goldberg, Editor of Organic Insider. “What is touching the food? Was a contaminated lubrication used on a machine? Was food stored in a vat that was fluorinated, as it was crossing the Pacific Ocean in an incredibly hot shipping container? Does the food contain contaminated spices? All of these and many other variables are the reason why the end-product should be tested, not just the ingredient,” she said.

Finding PFAS Free Alternatives
Responding to growing concern over “forever chemicals” in food and consumer packaged goods, a number of natural, organic and conscious CPG companies are offering alternatives for products that contain PFAS. The Environmental Working Group compiled a list, updated in January 2024, of companies that have declared their products have no added PFAS, in including food, fashion, beauty care and other consumer products categories. Online retailer Thrive Market this year announced in a blog on its website that, “Though more research is needed, PFAS are being studied as potential carcinogens. This month, Thrive Market added PFAS to its list of non-compliant chemicals and substances, meaning that you won’t find it in any products on our site.”

Businesses such as HeyBamboo, a toilet paper brand made from 100% bamboo, is committed to using absolutely no plastic in its packaging. “The wrap is made from bamboo, and so is the core of our toilet paper and paper towel products,” said company founder and CEO Joslyn Faust. “We like to say that we’re sustainable to the core,” she said. Another emerging brand, Generation for Change, is committed to making plastic-free health and personal care products, stating that it’s “a company made for the plastic-free generation.” In 2022, FoodTank reported on 19 food and beverage companies looking to move beyond plastic packaging

For natural and organic food brands, Charles Haverfield, CEO of U.S. Packaging and Wrapping, offered this counsel in 2023 in Sustainable Packaging News: “Selecting suitable materials for organic packaging demands a discerning approach. Choose options that minimize the presence of unwanted chemicals while upholding organic and sustainable principles. Materials like compostable plastics, plant-based fibers and paper offer a natural breakdown without leaving behind harmful residues. Glass and metal containers, which are highly recyclable and chemically inert, limit interactions with the packaged goods. Steer clear of some conventional plastics, as they can harbor hazardous additives like phthalates and bisphenol-A. Instead, explore alternatives like bio-based plastics or cellulose-based materials. It's important to note that while aluminum is recyclable, certain aluminum-coated packaging materials may contain additional coatings that clash with organic principles.”

A number of packaging suppliers are offering PFAS free options, such as Good Start Packaging, Delfort, CarePac and others, which offer compostable fiber and paper food packaging with no added PFAS. In January 2024, Organic Produce Network reported that a new third-party packaging standard, GreenScreen Certified — a collaboration between the Center for Environmental Health and Clean Production Action — will certify packaging products that are free from PFAS, as well as “thousands of other chemicals of high concern to human health and the environment.”

Learn More

Video Abstract: Evidence for Widespread Human Exposure to Food Contact Chemicals

Full Study: Evidence for Widespread Human Exposure to Food Contact Chemicals

Summary of Study: Evidence for Widespread Human Exposure to Food Contact Chemicals

Database on Food Contact Chemicals Monitored in Humans (FCChumon)

Food Engineering Magazine: Get the PFAS Out of Food Packaging Materials ASAP

Guide to PFAS Free Food Packaging

Mamavation Guide to Avoiding Products with Forever Chemicals

Environmental Working Group Guide to Companies Marketing Alternatives for Products that Contain PFAS

Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, providing public relations, brand marketing, social media and strategic business development services to natural, organic, sustainable and hemp/CBD products businesses. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.

Steve Hoffman 8/24/24 Steve Hoffman 8/24/24

HeyBamboo® Expands Into Brick and Mortar With 'Eco-Luxe' Toilet Paper and Paper Towels

‘Sustainable to the Core,’ the bleach-free, compostable, recyclable, zero-waste and plastic-free products are now available to retailers that prioritize sustainability and premium quality.

SAN FRANCISCO (Aug. 23, 2024) — HeyBamboo® founder and CEO Joslyn Faust is leading a sustainable paper revolution. HeyBamboo has been selling its “eco-luxe” premium quality toilet paper products successfully online to conscious consumers for the past year and the company is now poised to expand into select brick and mortar retail locations with the debut of retail packs of its bleach-free toilet paper and a new line of paper towels made from 100% bamboo.

HeyBamboo will debut the new retail line to natural channel and healthy lifestyle retail buyers at the upcoming Newtopia Now trade show, Aug. 25-28, 2024, in Denver. The company will exhibit in the Represent Neighborhood.

“Newtopia Now is the ideal place to launch the our new retail line since the focus is on having meaningful conversations with key buyers who are looking for conscious CPG brands on the cusp of industry trends,” notes Joslyn. “The show, with its focus on sustainability, wellness and diversity, is welcoming to me as an emerging, mission-based brand. As a female minority founder, that is important.”

Why Bamboo Is Best
Bamboo, a fast-growing, renewable resource, has incredibly powerful regenerative capabilities. Bamboo sequesters 2.03 metric tons of carbon per hectare per year and requires 30% less water than its traditional rivals during the manufacturing process.

HeyBamboo products are made from soft, strong and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified 100% bamboo. The toilet paper comes in a 3-ply, 360-sheet roll, with nine rolls to a retail box. The new retail paper towels are available in 3-roll packs with 150 2-ply half-sheets per roll. The packaging and core are also made from 100% recyclable and compostable bamboo, making the products septic safe, zero-waste and completely plastic free.

“We consider HeyBamboo to be the luxurious alternative to alternative toilet paper. Our products are sustainably sourced, offer superior performance, and are great for the planet and better for you and your family. Not to mention, HeyBamboo toilet paper and paper towels help keep trees in the ground, where they belong,” Joslyn says.

Answering Nature’s Call
When the toilet paper shortage hit during the Covid pandemic, Joslyn became curious and began looking into the impact of toilet paper manufacturing.

Each year the logging industry cuts down more than a million acres of virgin North American boreal forest, in large part to meet consumer demand for toilet paper. These forests are critical in sequestering carbon, and their destruction can lead to long-term environmental damage and climate change, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. In addition, Joslyn discovered that toxic chemicals including bleach and “forever chemicals” (PFAS) are used in the vast majority of toilet paper manufacturing.

Seeing an opportunity to change the paper products paradigm, Joslyn launched HeyBamboo to provide sustainable, bleach-free toilet paper.

“As a consumer, I was merely looking for something better for my family and realized there aren’t a lot of sustainable toilet paper brands on the market. They tend to be bleached, wrapped in plastic or expensive. So I decided to create an option made from bamboo that is soft, feels great, is a good value and has all the qualities conscious consumers care about,” she says.

About HeyBamboo
Established in 2023, HeyBamboo is a minority, woman-owned, conscious CPG brand dedicated to providing consumers with premium-quality “eco-luxe” sustainable paper products. HeyBamboo is a member of 1% for the Planet, One Tree Planted and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). For information, visit www.HeyBamboo.com and follow on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and LinkedIn.

For wholesale inquiries, contact hello@heybamboo.com.

Visit HeyBamboo at Newtopia Now in Booth 646 in the Represent Neighborhood featuring mission-based, Conscious CPG brands from traditionally underrepresented communities.

Learn More

Media Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042

Steve Hoffman 8/22/24 Steve Hoffman 8/22/24

Conscious CPG Voices, Part I

These articles were originally published on the New Hope Network website

All articles by Steven Hoffman

How are “Conscious CPG” companies positioning themselves in today’s fast-changing consumer market—and how are they turning to the Newtopia Now as a vital new resource to advance their brand among key buyers and decision makers?

We asked the founders and leaders of 10 emerging brands who are exhibiting their innovations—many of them for the very first time at Newtopia Now—what factors drive their decisions today. Coming from diverse backgrounds, these entrepreneurs share at least one thing in common: The belief that gathering with peers, contemporaries, buyers, influencers, mentors, business leaders and others in an intimate setting is critical to learning about the marketplace, building relationships and growing your business and brand.

Funky Mello turns aquafaba into plant-based indulgence

Delisa Harper and her husband, Zach, are co-founders of Funky Mello. The Austin, Texas-based company is seeking to carve out a niche in the refrigerated desserts category with its line of plant-based marshmallow cremes formulated from aquafaba, the starchy brine derived from cooked chickpeas. Funky Mello’s product offerings are vegan, gluten free, soy free and free of eight top food allergens. Mission-based, the company also supports organizations tackling youth food insecurity. Here is the brand's story in Delisa Harper's own words.

Rasa showcases high-performance adaptogen brews at Newtopia Now

Boulder, Colorado-based Rasa was founded in 2018 by Lopa van de Mersch and Ben Levine Nahar. Combining an interest in Ayurveda with herbs, adaptogens, mushrooms and other functional ingredients, Rasa and Ben created a “dark, rich, roasty” coffee alternative. In 2021, Rasa announced it had become a Public Benefit Corporation, and in 2022, the company raised $4.1 million in a crowdfunding campaign. Today, led by CEO Lenny Chase—who as a marketing executive helped build Halo Top into a national brand—Rasa is expanding to offer a full line of high-performance daily brews designed to provide energy from adaptogenic ingredients, plus functional coffee, cacao, matcha and other beverage products. Here is the brand's story in Lenny Chase's own words.

HeyBamboo brings sustainability and inspiration to Newtopia Now

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Joslyn Faust worked in tech marketing for 20 years, yet she always harbored the entrepreneurial spirit to launch a company. When the toilet paper shortage hit during the Covid pandemic, Faust began looking into the impact of toilet paper manufacturing, along with the bleach and chemicals often used in the process. Seeing an opportunity from what she found out, in 2023, Joslyn launched HeyBamboo to provide sustainable, unbleached toilet paper made from 100% bamboo. With the motto, “Sustainable to the Core,” no plastic is ever used in the packaging. Here is the brand’s story in Joslyn Faust’s own words.

Oodaalolly’s chocolate fills store aisles—and Newtopia Now—with 'unfiltered joy'

Oodaalolly founder Hernan Lauber grew up in the Philippines, Switzerland and the U.S. When Hernan’s Swiss father opened a chocolate company in rural Pennsylvania in the early 1980s, Hernan spent his formative years working in his dad’s chocolate factory, “doing every horrible job no one wanted to do.” After studying engineering, working in manufacturing and life sciences, and living overseas for 10 years, Hernan and his family settled in the San Francisco Bay Area, where, inspired by his father’s business and his Filipino roots, Hernan founded Oodaalolly. From the packaging to the product, Oodaalolly chocolate reflects deep cultural roots and traditional Swiss chocolate making techniques, all made in the U.S. Read the brand’s story in Hernan Lauber’s own words.

Innovation, experience help Nature's Sunshine understand consumers’ health needs

Established in 1972, Nature’s Sunshine takes pride in its claim as the first company ever to encapsulate herbs. Today, the dietary supplements leader offers more than 500 products and employs a global direct sales force of over 670,000 independent managers, distributors and customers in at least 40 countries. The company operates its own R&D and quality control group and manufactures its products in a 200,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, 100% solar-powered facility in Spanish Fork, Utah. The company also supports health and wellness for children around the world through its partnership with the Sunshine Heroes Foundation. Learn more from Nature’s Sunshine President Kevin Herbert.

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