How Food Packaging Affects Health

2. Recycled Paper Packaging

Because of the potential environmental impact of throwing away food packaging, a growing number of companies opt to recycle and reuse paper products like boxes. However, sometimes printing inks from earlier uses of the packaging persist through the recycling process, exposing consumers to phthalates and other harmful chemicals.

These substances are known as endocrine disruptors because they mimic and interfere with the endocrine system, which manages the various hormones in the body. Exposure to even low levels of endocrine disruptors can lead to health and developmental problems.