What's really in your food? The hidden chemicals that could be harming your health
By oliviacook // 2025-06-06
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  • Harmful chemicals from food processing equipment, packaging and storage containers can leach into what you eat – especially ultra-processed foods.
  • Food contact chemicals (e.g., BPA, phthalates, PFAS, microplastics) have been linked to serious conditions like cancer, heart disease, hormone disruption, infertility, obesity and more – even at low doses.
  • Substances like PFAS and microplastics have been found in arteries, human blood and organs – no body part seems untouched.
  • Many food additives and chemicals are approved by companies themselves under "Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS)" rules, with minimal FDA oversight.
  • Choosing less processed foods, avoiding plastics and supporting stronger food safety laws can help reduce personal and public health risks.
A growing number of scientists are raising concerns about synthetic chemicals that sneak into food from packaging, processing equipment and storage containers. These aren't ingredients you see on the food label – but they're ending up in your meals all the same. A peer-reviewed study published in Nature Medicine reveals that these so-called food contact chemicals (FCCs), along with industrial additives and microplastics, may be fueling a rise in chronic illnesses, like diabetes, hormone disruption, obesity, reproductive issues and even cancer.

More than just junk food

It's no secret that ultra-processed foods – think boxed meals, candies, hot dogs or microwave dinners – aren't winning awards for nutrition. But what you may not know is that these foods also carry more synthetic chemicals, some of which leach into your meals through "normal" industry practices, like packaging, storing and heating. Among the most common offenders:
  • Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates - Used in plastics and metal can linings.
  • Microplastics and nanoplastics - Tiny particles from containers or industry tools that end up in your food.
  • Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - Notoriously known as "forever chemicals," found in grease-resistant wrappers and fast-food packaging.
Dr. Sanjay Rajagopalan, a cardiovascular researcher, recently pointed out that these particles have been found "in just about every portion of your body... no organ is spared." That includes your arteries, heart, lungs and even your brain and placenta. Worse yet, these aren't rare exposures: studies estimate that 98 percent of Americans already have PFAS in their blood.

Who's watching the watchdogs?

One big reason these chemicals are still in circulation? Regulatory loopholes. Thanks to an outdated system called GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe), food companies can self-approve chemical additives without formal review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means thousands of chemicals have entered the food system under the radar – some with disturbing health effects. That's why consumer advocacy groups like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) are stepping in to help. (Related: Lawmakers urge Federal Trade Commission to take action against ONLINE ADS for junk foods.)

12 Food chemicals to watch out for

To help everyday shoppers avoid the most concerning additives in the U.S. food supply, the EWG created the "Dirty Dozen Guide to Food Chemicals." These 12 substances are commonly found in processed foods – but many have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive issues and other serious health risks. Here's the full list:
  • Artificial food dyes (Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 6) - Found in many colorful snacks and drinks; linked to behavioral issues in children.
  • Aspartame - An artificial sweetener in diet sodas and sugar-free products; associated with metabolic disruption and possible cancer risk.
  • Azodicarbonamide (ADA) - A dough conditioner used in breads; may cause cancer and organ damage.
  • Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) - Used in some fruity drinks and sodas; may harm the nervous system and the thyroid.
  • Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) - A preservative in cured meats; considered a possible carcinogen.
  • Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) - A chemical cousin of BHA found in cereals; may disrupt hormones and increase cancer risk.
  • Potassium bromate - Added to flour in baked goods; classified as a possible human carcinogen.
  • Propyl gallate - A preservative in vegetable oils, meats and gum; linked to asthma and hormone disruption.
  • Propyl paraben - A preservative used in pastries and tortillas; linked to developmental and reproductive harm.
  • Sodium benzoate - A preservative in dressings and sodas; when mixed with vitamin C it can form benzene, a cancer-causing chemical.
  • Sodium nitrate - A meat preservative that can form carcinogenic compounds during processing and cooking.
  • Titanium dioxide - A whitening agent in candy; may damage DNA.
Health tip: If any of these appear on your ingredient labels – or if a food has a long list of hard-to-pronounce chemicals – it might be worth skipping.

What you can do now

You may not be able to control the entire food system, but you can make more informed choices in your daily life.
  • Avoid heating food in plastic. Even "microwave-safe plastic" can leach chemicals under high heat.
  • Choose less-processed foods. Whole ingredients, like beans, grains and fresh fruits, proteins and veggies, are less likely to carry hidden chemicals.
  • Read food labels carefully. While not all harmful chemicals are listed, long ingredient lists with unfamiliar additives are red flags.
  • Support stronger regulation. Advocate for clearer labeling and stricter oversight by following groups like Beyond Plastics, EWG and other food safety watchdogs.
  • Share what you know. Awareness is power. The more you talk about this, the harder it becomes for the industry to hide behind loopholes.
Read more stories like this at FoodScience.news. Watch this video comparing the ingredients of foods in the U.S. and Europe. This video is from Your News Now (YNN) channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Hidden food chemicals in many "health" foods linked to gut damage, cancer and metabolic disorders. The hidden link between Big Ag and Big Pharma: How our food and health systems keep us sick. Food safety alert: Many gluten-free foods are contaminated with glyphosate and other agrochemicals, tests reveal.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com Nature.com EWG.org Brighteon.com
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