Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used globally and comprise more than 4700 individual compounds. (1,2) They have been intentionally added to food packaging for decades to confer grease and water repellency. PFAS are inherently persistent, and many are mobile, bioaccumulative, and/or toxic. (3−6) As such, their use in food packaging could represent a significant issue in terms of direct human exposure and end-of-life environmental pollution. (3,5−9) On December 20, 2022, the Government of Canada prohibited the manufacturing or import of single-use plastics, including “single-use plastic foodservice ware” such as polystyrene and oxo-degradable plastic clamshell containers, lidded containers, boxes, and bowls. (10) This regulation, and a subsequent Canadian regulation that will restrict the use of these single-use plastics entirely by December 2023, will likely lead to greater use of plant fiber-based food packaging alternatives, to which PFAS may be added to achieve grease- and water-repellency. (11) If so, this would represent a regrettable substitution of trading one harmful option for another.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Canadian Fast Food Packaging