A comprehensive analysis published in Environmental Science & Technology has identified widespread hazards among chemicals that come into contact with food, including packaging materials that can migrate into what people eat.
Scale of the problem
Researchers matched a database of chemicals known to touch food against official regulatory safety findings and identified a total of 15,159 substances used intentionally or found migrating from packaging. Of these, they report that 1,222 chemicals have been reviewed by regulators and linked to serious human-health effects such as cancer, reproductive harm and endocrine (hormone) disruption.
The team also placed more than 4,000 chemicals into hazardous priority groups. Critically, the study found that around 70% of chemicals closely related to those priority hazards lacked adequate safety data, increasing the risk that hazardous substances may be replaced by near-identical alternatives with similar toxicity — a phenomenon the authors describe as “regrettable substitution”.
| Metric | Number reported |
|---|---|
| Total chemicals contacting food | 15,159 |
| Regulator-reviewed chemicals with serious hazards | 1,222 |
| Chemicals placed in hazardous priority groups | 4,000+ |
| Known to migrate into food | 2,160 |
Why this matters for consumers and regulators
The authors note that food-contact chemicals (FCCs) originate from packaging, processing equipment and other materials, and can migrate into food. At least 2,160 FCCs are already known to migrate into food, the study says. Some chemical classes, such as certain bisphenols and ortho-phthalates, are already regulated in parts of the world because of toxicity concerns.
However, regulation can lead manufacturers to use structurally similar substitutes — for example, replacing bisphenol A (BPA) with bisphenol S (BPS). The researchers warn that because many replacements are chemically close to the regulated substance, they may carry similar health risks unless thoroughly assessed.
- Regrettable substitution: Restricting one chemical may prompt use of a near-identical alternative that lacks safety data but may be equally hazardous.
- Data gaps: Large proportions of related chemicals lack regulator-quality safety information, limiting risk assessment.
- Exposure potential: Thousands of chemicals are in direct contact with food through packaging and processing, creating avenues for human exposure.
Implications for South Africa
Although the study is international in scope, its findings are directly relevant to South African food safety and chemical management. The presence of poorly characterised substitutes and the large number of FCCs that can migrate into food underline the need for strong, evidence-based regulation and comprehensive testing before substitutions become widespread.
Public-health officials, regulators and industry in South Africa will need to weigh the study’s evidence when considering limits, monitoring strategies and approvals for food-contact materials. The research also highlights the importance of transparency in chemical use and the value of harmonised global approaches to avoid hazardous substitutions.
The authors made their evaluation by cross-referencing chemicals listed in specialised FCC databases against regulator-reviewed hazard classifications and exposure evidence. They caution that gaps in safety data could allow hazardous chemicals to enter supply chains unnoticed.
What consumers should know
For now, consumers cannot identify most chemical migrants in packaged food by looking at labels. The study reinforces that reducing reliance on unnecessary packaging where feasible, favouring foods with minimal processing, and supporting regulatory action to close safety-data gaps are practical steps.
Health professionals recommend that anyone worried about chemical exposure consult their clinic or doctor rather than self-diagnose. Continued monitoring by health authorities and research into safer alternatives will be crucial to protect public health.
The study is published in Environmental Science & Technology and uses data from FCC-specific databases to map hazards and exposure evidence for food-contact chemicals.
