[Reading Science] Do Food Packaging Materials Make You Gain Weight?

Exposure to phthalates from food packaging containers can disrupt the human endocrine system.
[Photo by YouTube screen capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jonghwa] Modern people are sensitive about gaining weight. They look for low-calorie foods and try to eat less, but wouldn't it be frustrating if they end up gaining weight due to absorbing environmental hormones through food packaging?

'Phthalate' is a substance added to hard plastics to provide flexibility. It is contained in various plastic products used in daily life. Because of phthalates' easily bendable and elastic properties, they are used as additives in plastics.

Phthalates are added to packaging materials of various products, medical devices, children's toys, dolls, food containers, infusion sets, blood bags, stationery, air fresheners, and food wraps, and can enter the human body. Since they are widely used in packaging materials related to food, phthalates were detected at levels of 0.001 to 0.38 μg/kg bw in bread, rice cakes, sugar, and processed meat products distributed domestically, causing controversy.

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the average daily exposure of Koreans to phthalates (daily intake per kg of body weight) is 10.1 μg/kg bw/day, which is about one-fifth of the tolerable daily intake (TDI, 50 μg/kg bw/day), indicating a relatively safe level. The amount of phthalates detected in some foods was not enough to cause concern.

Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting substances that interfere with the normal function of the endocrine system in the body. In other words, they are a type of environmental hormone.

Endocrine-disrupting substances act similarly to human hormones. After dissolving and settling in fat cells in the body, they disrupt the production, release, transport, metabolism, and binding of natural hormones. Such activity of endocrine-disrupting substances is said to cause weight gain, malformations of the genitourinary system, and impaired sexual development.

A research team at the Helmholtz Environmental Research Center in Germany published findings in an international academic journal that phthalates alter metabolic processes and cause weight gain. The team demonstrated the correlation between phthalates and weight gain through experiments on mice.

Mice exposed to drinking water containing phthalates, especially female mice, showed significantly increased body weight compared to mice not exposed to phthalates. The research team found that phthalates increase the ratio of unsaturated fatty acids in the blood, interfere with glucose metabolism, and affect receptors in the blood that are central to metabolism.

A research team at Columbia University Medical Center also reported that phthalates reduce brain development and motor function in girls, particularly decreasing fine motor skills. Children with impaired fine motor skills may have difficulties with schoolwork such as writing or using electronic devices.

The biggest cause of weight gain is dietary habits. It is because of eating a lot and exercising less. However, exposure to phthalates is also likely related to dietary habits.

Although the level of human exposure to phthalates is extremely low, it is better to avoid it if possible. For food wraps, it is advisable to avoid contact with foods high in fat or alcohol content and to use them only with foods below 100°C.

Also, it is better to reduce the use of air fresheners and perfumes because phthalates in the air can be absorbed through the respiratory tract or skin. Frequent ventilation is recommended to expel phthalates lingering in the air due to air freshener use. It is also important to remind children not to put toys in their mouths or suck on them.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.