Synthetic chemicals in ultra-processed foods contribute to serious health issues, study finds
By ramontomeydw // 2025-05-23
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  • Synthetic chemicals from packaging, additives and processing equipment in ultra-processed foods contribute to chronic diseases, such as obesity and heart disease, beyond what nutritional labels indicate.
  • A Nature Medicine review highlights microplastics, PFAS ("forever chemicals") and endocrine disruptors in food as major but overlooked public health threats, with 98 percent of Americans already carrying PFAS in their blood.
  • Over 100,000 synthetic chemicals contaminate food, and most are untested for safety. Current risk assessments fail to account for real-world low-dose exposures that disrupt hormones and metabolism.
  • Microplastics are found in nearly every organ, resemble cholesterol particles and are tied to a 4.5x higher heart attack risk, per an NEJM study. Plastic-related diseases cost the U.S. $249 billion in 2018.
  • Experts urge reducing plastic packaging, prioritizing whole foods and overhauling chemical regulations. While Europe moves toward stricter policies, U.S. oversight lags, leaving consumers vulnerable to corporate self-regulation.
The foods lining grocery store shelves – colorful candies, microwavable meals and packaged snacks – may be more dangerous than their labels suggest. A growing body of research reveals that synthetic chemicals leaching from packaging, processing equipment and additives in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are silently contributing to chronic diseases like obesity and even heart disease. A review published May 16 in Nature Medicine called attention to this serious matter. It warned that contaminants – including microplastics, forever chemicals and endocrine disruptors – represent an "underappreciated and understudied" threat to public health. With 98 percent of Americans already carrying PFAS in their blood and microplastics infiltrating organs from the brain to the placenta, experts argue that outdated regulations and corporate negligence are fueling a preventable epidemic. UPFs – industrially manufactured products laden with stabilizers, artificial flavors and preservatives – are a primary vehicle for these toxins. Bisphenols (like BPA), phthalates and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) migrate into food during production, storage and even reheating. The scale of contamination is staggering, yet regulatory gaps leave consumers unprotected. While over 100,000 synthetic chemicals may seep into food, most remain untested for safety. Current risk assessments rely on high-dose animal studies, ignoring the real-world cocktail of low-dose exposures that disrupt hormones and metabolism. (Related: Convenience culture's hidden toll: Study links ultra-processed foods to reduced lifespan and environmental harm.) "Current approaches to testing food contact materials are outdated," warned Jane Muncke, managing director and chief scientific officer of the Switzerland-based Food Packaging Forum. Muncke, the review's corresponding author, also called for post-market bans on the most hazardous chemicals and stricter oversight of food packaging.

A billion-dollar health crisis Big Food doesn't want you to know about

Dr. Sanjay Rajagopalan of Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, who isn't involved in the Nature Medicine review, noted that microplastics are found in "just about every portion of your body." He and his co-authors pointed out in a March 2024 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that these microplastics resemble jagged cholesterol particles and are linked to a 4.5-fold higher risk of heart attacks. Historically, the rise of processed foods paralleled post-war industrial efficiency. But the health consequences are only now coming to light. Studies estimate that plastic-related diseases cost the U.S. $249 billion in 2018, with PFAS exposure alone accounting for $5.5 billion in health damages. Unlike whole foods, UPFs are designed for profit – not nutrition – with synthetic additives extending shelf life at the expense of human health. While European regulators respond to consumer demand for cleaner labels, U.S. policies lag, leaving corporations to self-police. The solution, researchers argue, lies in systemic change: reducing reliance on plastic packaging, prioritizing whole foods and overhauling chemical regulations. For now, consumers face an uneven battle against invisible toxins. As Muncke asserts, removing the worst chemicals is a critical first step. But without transparency, the true cost of convenience will continue to be paid in chronic disease and shortened lives. Visit StopEatingPoison.com for more similar stories. Watch David Icke reiterating that UPFs are killing people in this clip. This video is from the What is happening channel on Brighteon.com.

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Ultra-processed foods and poor sleep: Breaking the link through dietary choices. A diet of "ultraprocessed" foods drives disease, increasing the risk of early death. Ultra-processed foods linked to hypertension, cancer and early death: Study exposes hidden dangers of modern diet. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org Nature.com TheNewLede.org NEJM.org Brighteon.com
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