(CNN) --
According to a new report, alarming levels of dangerous chemicals known as PFAS have been discovered in food wrappers and containers from a number of well-known fast-food restaurants and supermarket chains.
The highest levels of PFAS indicators were found in food packaging from Nathan's Famous, Cava, Arby's, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Stop & Shop and Sweetgreen, according to research published Thursday by Consumer Reports.
Often called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down in the environment, PFASs are used in food packaging to prevent grease and water from seeping through food wrappers and beverage cups.
PFAS can also be found in the ink used to print logos and instructions on food packaging.
The new report comes after more than two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, in which the public has largely turned to takeout and grocery deliveries.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls exposure to PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) a "public health concern," citing studies that reveal that these man-made chemicals can damage the immune system and reduce people's resistance to infectious diseases.
"There is evidence from human and animal studies that exposure to PFAS may reduce antibody responses to vaccines," the CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry stated.
"More research is needed to understand how PFAS exposure may affect COVID-19 disease."
advertising
Fast food wrappers and takeout containers may contain toxic chemicals, study warns
More than 100 food products analyzed
The Consumer Reports investigation collected 118 food packaging products sold by 24 companies in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Those products were tested for organic fluorine, a marker for PFAS.
The researchers then sent the samples of the products with the highest levels to an independent lab that could perform more specific tests, said Michael Hansen, a senior scientist at Consumer Reports.
Regulatory limits on the amount of PFAS that must be contained in food packaging can vary widely.
In the US there are no federal limits, so the measures depend on the states.
Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington have passed bills banning the intentional use of PFAS in food packaging, but have not yet specified a limit, according to Consumer Reports.
In January 2023, a new law in California will set the limit at less than 100 ppm (parts per million).
However, Denmark set a much lower regulatory limit of 20 ppm with great success, said Xenia Trier, an expert on chemicals, the environment and human health at the European Environment Agency.
"In Denmark we have seen both a decrease in non-compliance by industry from 60% to close to 30% and a decrease in PFAS levels in packaging products over the last 10 years," Trier told CNN.
"Setting limits and enforcing them does work. Alternative solutions are possible and if one manufacturer can make PFAS-free packaging then it should be possible for everyone."
Consumer Reports research found the highest levels of PFAS, 876 ppm and 618 ppm, in two types of side dish bags from Nathan's Famous restaurants.
Elevated indicators of PFAS (in the 500s) were also found in a Chick-fil-A sandwich wrapper and in bowls made from the fiber at Cava, a Mediterranean restaurant chain.
Indicator levels in the 300s and 400s were found in a cookie bag at Arby's, on bamboo paper plates at Stop & Shop, and in a bag of cookies and French bread sticks at Burger King.
Indicator levels of PFAS were found in the 200's in a paper bag from Sweetgreen for focaccia, other packaging in Cava, and in bags for French fries, cookies and Chicken McNuggets at McDonald's.
However, all listed companies had other food packaging with levels below 200 ppm.
Four companies -- Arby's, Nathan's Famous, McDonald's and Stop & Shop -- also sold food in packaging that had no detectable levels of PFAS, according to the report.
The Consumer Reports investigation did not look at the packaging of all products sold by each company.
"I wouldn't urge consumers to think of these brands and go to just this one or that one, as this research only looked at a little over 100 products," said Graham Peaslee, a professor of physics, chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.
"However, this will put pressure on the industry, so in that sense I think it's a valuable report," he added.
"Measuring and saying that PFAS are out there and dangerous draws people's attention, and companies tend to avoid that attention."
Impact of PFAS on health
PFAS chemicals are found in many products: nonstick cookware, infection-resistant surgical gowns and drapes, cell phones, semiconductors, commercial aircraft, and low-emission vehicles.
These chemicals are also used to make carpets, clothing, and furniture resistant to stains and damage from water and grease.
In use since the 1950s, PFAS are chemicals that most Americans have "in their blood," especially perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)," according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, responsible for protecting the public from dangerous substances.
In the Consumer Reports investigation, the most common chemical found in tested food packaging was PFOA, with PFOS ranking fifth, according to the report.
In addition to impacts on the immune system, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry said that studies in humans and laboratory animals have found links between certain PFAS chemicals and increased cholesterol levels, alterations in enzymes of the liver, an increased risk of developing kidney or testicular cancer, small reductions in birth weight in babies, and an additional risk of high blood pressure in pregnant women.
"PFAS have also caused birth defects, developmental delays, and newborn deaths in laboratory animals," the agency stated, adding that "not all of the effects seen in animals may occur in humans." .
As environmental groups and the public began to take note of the health impacts of chemicals, manufacturers began to voluntarily phase out the use of PFOS and PFOA in the United States.
Between 1999 and 2014, PFOS levels in Americans' blood had dropped by more than 80% and PFOA levels in their blood had dropped by more than 60%, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry stated.
However, "as PFOS and PFOA are phased out and replaced, people may be exposed to other PFAS," the agency continued.
Newer versions of PFAS in food packaging appear to be absorbed into food more easily than older versions, according to a 2016 study.
Studies in Denmark have shown that PFAS "migrate from paper to food," Trier said.
"Although it was not 100%, we still saw substantial transmission. In general, transmission from packaging to food increases as food temperature and residence time of packaging materials increase."
industry response
The Consumer Reports investigation mirrored the results of the 2018 and 2020 reports from Toxic-Free Future and Safer Chemicals Healthy Families.
Those reports found "harmful" levels of PFAS in fast-food packaging and in nearly two-thirds of paper take-out packaging, such as those used at buffets.
In response to the 2018 report, Whole Foods became the first supermarket chain in North America to publicly commit to removing PFAS from takeout packaging and deli and bakery paper.
Other companies have followed suit, including Ahold Delhaize, Albertsons, Amazon.com, Cava, Chipotle, Freshii, McDonald's, Panera Bread, Sweetgreen, Trader Joe's and Wendy's, according to Toxic-Free Future.
In the new investigation, Consumer Reports looked at 13 food packaging products from retailers that had previously committed to eliminating PFAS.
Seven of the 13 had PFAS levels greater than 20 ppm, according to the report.
Burger King, which had high levels of PFAS in three of the six products tested, had not made a public commitment to phase out PFAS, according to Consumer Reports.
Earlier Thursday, parent company Restaurant Brands International announced it will globally phase out any "added" PFAS from "customer-facing packaging materials" across Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes brands "by the end of 2025 or sooner."
Nathan's Famous, which according to Consumer Reports has also not publicly committed to reducing PFAS, told CNN that the company had begun eliminating the use of bags.
"One of our goals in this complete package redesign is to reduce PFAS," said Phil McCann, vice president of marketing for Nathan's Famous.
"The full transition will be completed in December 2022."
Chick-fil-A told CNN that it has been phasing out PFAS for four years: "Chick-fil-A has removed intentionally added PFAS from all new production packaging going forward in our supply chain. Although some of the remaining packaging may still be in restaurants, expected to be phased out by the end of this summer," the company tweeted on Wednesday.
Cava, which had previously committed to reducing PFAS but had five of six products with indicators between 200 ppm and 548 ppm, told CNN that "due to a multitude of factors related to the pandemic, and especially supply chain shortages supply chain, the transition to phase out added PFAS, which began in August 2021, is taking longer than anticipated. Our teams are working with our suppliers to complete the transition within this year."
In Argentina they create 100% natural soap for children with hypersensitivity to synthetic chemicals
A McDonald's spokesperson said less than 7.5% of the company's global food packaging contained added PFAS as of the end of 2020 and said the company was continuing its search for alternative materials that offered adequate grease-resistant barriers, with the aim of goal of deliberately reducing added PFAS by the end of 2025.
Sweetgreen told CNN that the company was "proud to share that we are currently in the process of rolling out new PFAS-free focaccia bags that will be available at all Sweetgreen locations by the end of the second quarter of this year."
Jennifer Brogan, director of external communications and community relations for Stop & Shop, told CNN that the company could "confirm that these Nature's Promise brand plates have been removed from all locations."
An Arby's spokesperson told CNN in an email that the company has "minimal packaging materials containing PFAs and is on track to eliminate PFAs from all packaging products by the end of 2022."
Makeup May Contain Potentially Toxic Chemicals Called PFAS, Study Reveals
Actions the public can take
Experts say that people who want to avoid PFAS in their takeout and food delivery packaging should favor companies that have committed to phase out the chemicals.
Take food out of the container as soon as you receive it, and never reheat food in its original container.
Instead, take the food out and heat it in ceramic or glass containers, Trier said.
The Consumer Reports investigation found that some of the highest levels of PFAS were in paper bags (192.2 ppm) and molded fiber cups and trays (156.8 ppm).
Paper plates returned 149 ppm, and food packaging and coatings 59.2 ppm.
Don't be fooled by "green" claims: they do not guarantee that a product is free of PFAS.
When Consumer Reports analyzed those products, some had PFAS levels greater than 100 ppm, and most had some detectable levels, according to the report.
Experts also suggest reducing the frequency of grab-and-go meals to once a week or less, and recommend that people cook their meals at home.
You can also turn to your congressional representative and senators and support the bipartisan Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act, according to experts.
The bill, designed to ban the use of any PFAS as a food contact substance, was introduced in both chambers in November.
