Home Cooked Meals Linked to Fewer Harmful Chemicals (PFAS).

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals found in packaged foods, which past animal studies have been linked to reproductive and developmental problems, liver and kidney disease, adverse effects on the immune system, and carcinogenic effects. In a new study, researchers reviewed diet information and blood work concerning 10,106 adults and identified a correlation between eating at home and having lower levels of PFAS in the blood. Furthermore, those who more frequently dined at restaurants, consumed fast food or ate microwave popcorn had more PFAS in their blood. Co-author Dr. Kathryn Rodgers explains, “The general conclusion here is the less contact your food has with food packaging, the lower your exposure to PFAS and other harmful chemicals… These latest findings will hopefully help consumers avoid these exposures and spur manufacturers to develop safer food packaging materials.” Environmental Health Perspectives, October 2019