Are PFAS in consumer food packaging still a a source?

What's actually in it

Food packaging often contains PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These are human-made chemicals used to make paper and cardboard resistant to grease and water. Because they don't break down easily, they are often called forever chemicals.

The problem is that these chemicals don't just stay in the packaging. They can move from the container into your food. Once they are in your food, they enter your body. Even when companies try to replace one type of PFAS with another, the issue often remains because many of these chemicals share similar harmful traits.

What the research says

Recent science confirms that these chemicals are still a major issue in the products we use every day. A 2026 study in Chemosphere confirms that PFAS are still present in consumer food packaging.

The risk goes beyond just the packaging itself. A 2026 study in Chemosphere shows that current testing methods often miss many types of PFAS, meaning the actual level of contamination in products is likely higher than what shows up on standard watchlists.

These chemicals also build up in the environment. A 2026 study in J Hazard Mater explains how PFAS move from agricultural soil into the food chain. Furthermore, a 2026 report in Lancet Oncol highlights that PFAS found in biosolids used in the food supply could pose a serious cancer risk.