Latest news with #PFAS-containing
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Families file lawsuit accusing manufacturers of poisoning their land: 'You don't know what's safe'
Families file lawsuit accusing manufacturers of poisoning their land: 'You don't know what's safe' Landowners in north Georgia have filed a lawsuit alleging that carpet and chemical manufacturers contaminated soil and water with toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as forever chemicals. According to environmental experts, the contamination has exposed nearby families to "catastrophic" levels of PFAS. What's happening? As Atlanta News First reported, Dalton landowners have said that decades of PFAS exposure from companies like 3M, Shaw Industries, and Mohawk Industries have polluted their land, impacting their property values and posed serious health risks. Testing on a family's property near carpet plants in Dalton showed PFAS contamination. Per the lawsuit and attorneys representing Leroy and Amber Fletcher, the landowners, the test found PFAS levels thousands of times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency's limit of four parts per trillion. "It could be in the deer; it could be in the fish," Amber Fletcher said, per Atlanta News First. "You don't know what's safe." Their lawsuit alleges that carpet manufacturers treated flooring materials with PFAS-containing products, which release the forever chemicals through the air. They said the chemicals were dumped into local sewers, which led to the spread of contaminated biosolids on land. The contamination is extensive, according to experts. The lawsuit claims that the companies knew the risks for decades but kept using PFAS without proper warnings or safeguards. Why does the lawsuit matter? PFAS are a group of toxic chemicals often used in the production of various everyday products, including food packaging, cosmetics, nonstick cookware, and clothing. They're also found in food and water. Do you worry about having toxic forever chemicals in your home? Majorly Sometimes Not really I don't know enough about them Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. They are known as forever chemicals because they can take hundreds to thousands of years to break down, potentially contaminating soil, water, and wildlife habitats in the process. PFAS have been linked to multiple negative health effects, including decreased birth weight, kidney and testicular cancer, and increased cholesterol levels, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The Dalton lawsuit could help raise awareness of PFAS contamination and highlight harmful corporate practices that affect nearby communities. What's being done about the contamination? Experts and lawmakers are working to limit human exposure to PFAS. Scientists are exploring ways to either remove them from drinking water or break them down into harmless compounds. Lawmakers are working to reduce PFAS exposure by keeping them out of everyday products. In Illinois, lawmakers passed the PFAS Reduction Act, a bill that aims to ban sales of certain household items containing PFAS by 2032. Similarly, the European Commission is proposing to ban forever chemicals from various consumer products. You can limit your exposure to PFAS by supporting eco-conscious brands. Learning about greenwashing also helps you identify corporate irresponsibility and understand how companies may mislead customers about their products' safety and environmental impacts. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Mexico files new lawsuit against US Air Force over PFAS contamination
Firefighters with the 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron test hose water pressure before an exercise Aug. 14, 2015, at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. In January, New Mexico environment officials cited the base for a spill of wastewater containing firefighting foam with PFAS which soaked into the aquifer after a retaining pond leaked. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexx Mercer) The New Mexico environment and Department of Justice on Monday announced a new lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Air Force seeking redress for PFAS contamination at Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis. Specifically, as delineated in a news release, the suit aims to order the Air Force to: end all use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam at Cannon for anything other than emergency purposes provide water treatment systems to residents whose water has been affected by PFAS contamination install drinking water lines for any willing residents currently serviced by private wells in the spill area hold regular public meetings with the community install stormwater controls and retention basins to prevent offsite migration of PFAS from contaminated media evaluate nearby private property affected by PFAS contamination compensate the owners of such property for losses resulting from PFAS contamination Per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances – aka PFAS – are a class of thousands of manmade chemicals used in waterproofing. They are in everyday items such as cookware or takeout containers and also in fire-fighting foams for aircraft. But the chemicals' resistance to breaking down from exposure to water, heat and sunlight mean that they are accumulating in the soil and water and in the bodies of animals and people. Health officials have linked PFAS to health risks such as decreased fertility, immune system damage, lower vaccine effectiveness and increased cancer risks. In January, New Mexico environment officials issued a nearly $68,000-dollar fine to the Cannon U.S. Air Force Base Tuesday, stating the military had failed to immediately report a 4,000-gallon spill of PFAS into the groundwater in August. Cannon appealed the fine in February. The new lawsuit follows the enactment of House Bill 140 following the most recent legislative session, which expanded the state's authority to require cleanup of PFAS. Specifically, New Mexico has argued PFAS was subject to regulation under the Hazardous Waste Act since 2019, but the Air Force disagreed and sued NMED over the issue. HB 140 explicitly designates discarded firefighting foams containing PFAS chemicals as hazardous waste. 'After years of contesting responsibility, today's lawsuit puts every one of the Air Force's excuses to rest,'Environment Department Secretary James Kenney said in a statement regarding the new lawsuit. 'The Air Force has spent years contesting the Environment Department's authority as opposed to any meaningful cleanup of the toxic PFAS contamination in local drinking water sources that serve both residents and dairy farmers.' Battle between New Mexico and US Air Force to track toxic chemicals drags on In 2018, outflows from Cannon AFB contaminated water sources with PFAS in 2018 and caused dairy farmers to euthanize thousands of cows. 'PFAS contamination poses a serious and long-term threat to our environment and our communities,' Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in a statement. 'We are committed to using every legal tool available to hold the federal government accountable for the damage done on the base and the surrounding community and to prevent further harm from these dangerous 'forever chemicals.' New Mexicans deserve clean water, safe soil, and a future free from toxic exposure—and we won't stop fighting until they get it.'
The Advertiser
30-05-2025
- Science
- The Advertiser
Manufacturer 3M on notice for 'silent' but toxic PFAS
A set of "dangerous and insidious" chemicals detected at a river near a World Heritage site have been traced back to a former quarry used by manufacturing giant 3M. PFAS soil, sediment, groundwater and surface water have been found across a 100-hectare area of the inactive Brogans Creek lime quarry northwest of the Blue Mountains, the NSW Environment Protection Authority says. The environment authority has for the first time issued a notice and taken regulatory action against 3M and its local Australian arm. The quarry, in the state's central west, was historically used by 3M to test PFAS-containing firefighting foam. While "the scale of the onsite contamination is significant", there is limited human exposure because of the remoteness of the site, the environment regulator said. However, it found some of the chemicals eight kilometres downstream in the Capertee River within a national park. The levels found were above the national drinking guidelines. Ian Wright, an environmental science professor at Western Sydney University, said more data needs to be gathered about the "dangerous and insidious" chemicals. "The Capertee River is just upstream of the Blue Mountains World Heritage area so it has extremely high biodiversity values," he told AAP. "Because these chemicals build and build ... it's a silent burden that humans and animals are carrying around ... that could have very poor health outcomes." PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of 15,000 highly toxic, synthetic chemicals used for their resistance to heat, stains and grease. They have been dubbed "forever chemicals" because they break down extremely slowly. Emerging evidence has linked some PFAS to cancer, leading to tighter regulation of the substances, particularly in drinking water. Even though the environment authority commended 3M for its co-operation, it said this is only the first step in what is likely a complex and lengthy remediation process to follow. Dr Wright warned this could be the beginning of a protracted legal battle to ascertain whether 3M or the local council ends up cleaning up the chemicals. "It's probably contaminated forever ... once the contamination is there, it's there for multiple lifetimes," he said. High-level contamination was detected in the drinking water catchment serving 30,000 people in the Blue Mountains in mid-2024. An eight-month WaterNSW investigation released earlier in May found contamination of two dams used for Blue Mountains drinking water may have occurred after separate motor vehicle accident sites on the Great Western Highway in 1992 and 2002 near the Medlow Bath township. The town's fire station was also a possible source of contamination. Test samples at all three sites revealed the chemical compound signature consistent with the historical use of PFAS-containing fire-fighting foam, banned nationwide in 2007. Under the authority's clean-up notice, 3M Australia has 60 days to submit a detailed plan to manage PFAS pollution. "This is a significant moment for the EPA and one that represents an important milestone in our efforts to address legacy environmental harm," the authority's operations director David Gathercole said. "Though this is only the first step ... 3M has so far been co-operative voluntarily offering to conduct investigation to better understand the extent and legacy of PFAS contamination." The company has been contacted for comment. A set of "dangerous and insidious" chemicals detected at a river near a World Heritage site have been traced back to a former quarry used by manufacturing giant 3M. PFAS soil, sediment, groundwater and surface water have been found across a 100-hectare area of the inactive Brogans Creek lime quarry northwest of the Blue Mountains, the NSW Environment Protection Authority says. The environment authority has for the first time issued a notice and taken regulatory action against 3M and its local Australian arm. The quarry, in the state's central west, was historically used by 3M to test PFAS-containing firefighting foam. While "the scale of the onsite contamination is significant", there is limited human exposure because of the remoteness of the site, the environment regulator said. However, it found some of the chemicals eight kilometres downstream in the Capertee River within a national park. The levels found were above the national drinking guidelines. Ian Wright, an environmental science professor at Western Sydney University, said more data needs to be gathered about the "dangerous and insidious" chemicals. "The Capertee River is just upstream of the Blue Mountains World Heritage area so it has extremely high biodiversity values," he told AAP. "Because these chemicals build and build ... it's a silent burden that humans and animals are carrying around ... that could have very poor health outcomes." PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of 15,000 highly toxic, synthetic chemicals used for their resistance to heat, stains and grease. They have been dubbed "forever chemicals" because they break down extremely slowly. Emerging evidence has linked some PFAS to cancer, leading to tighter regulation of the substances, particularly in drinking water. Even though the environment authority commended 3M for its co-operation, it said this is only the first step in what is likely a complex and lengthy remediation process to follow. Dr Wright warned this could be the beginning of a protracted legal battle to ascertain whether 3M or the local council ends up cleaning up the chemicals. "It's probably contaminated forever ... once the contamination is there, it's there for multiple lifetimes," he said. High-level contamination was detected in the drinking water catchment serving 30,000 people in the Blue Mountains in mid-2024. An eight-month WaterNSW investigation released earlier in May found contamination of two dams used for Blue Mountains drinking water may have occurred after separate motor vehicle accident sites on the Great Western Highway in 1992 and 2002 near the Medlow Bath township. The town's fire station was also a possible source of contamination. Test samples at all three sites revealed the chemical compound signature consistent with the historical use of PFAS-containing fire-fighting foam, banned nationwide in 2007. Under the authority's clean-up notice, 3M Australia has 60 days to submit a detailed plan to manage PFAS pollution. "This is a significant moment for the EPA and one that represents an important milestone in our efforts to address legacy environmental harm," the authority's operations director David Gathercole said. "Though this is only the first step ... 3M has so far been co-operative voluntarily offering to conduct investigation to better understand the extent and legacy of PFAS contamination." The company has been contacted for comment. A set of "dangerous and insidious" chemicals detected at a river near a World Heritage site have been traced back to a former quarry used by manufacturing giant 3M. PFAS soil, sediment, groundwater and surface water have been found across a 100-hectare area of the inactive Brogans Creek lime quarry northwest of the Blue Mountains, the NSW Environment Protection Authority says. The environment authority has for the first time issued a notice and taken regulatory action against 3M and its local Australian arm. The quarry, in the state's central west, was historically used by 3M to test PFAS-containing firefighting foam. While "the scale of the onsite contamination is significant", there is limited human exposure because of the remoteness of the site, the environment regulator said. However, it found some of the chemicals eight kilometres downstream in the Capertee River within a national park. The levels found were above the national drinking guidelines. Ian Wright, an environmental science professor at Western Sydney University, said more data needs to be gathered about the "dangerous and insidious" chemicals. "The Capertee River is just upstream of the Blue Mountains World Heritage area so it has extremely high biodiversity values," he told AAP. "Because these chemicals build and build ... it's a silent burden that humans and animals are carrying around ... that could have very poor health outcomes." PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of 15,000 highly toxic, synthetic chemicals used for their resistance to heat, stains and grease. They have been dubbed "forever chemicals" because they break down extremely slowly. Emerging evidence has linked some PFAS to cancer, leading to tighter regulation of the substances, particularly in drinking water. Even though the environment authority commended 3M for its co-operation, it said this is only the first step in what is likely a complex and lengthy remediation process to follow. Dr Wright warned this could be the beginning of a protracted legal battle to ascertain whether 3M or the local council ends up cleaning up the chemicals. "It's probably contaminated forever ... once the contamination is there, it's there for multiple lifetimes," he said. High-level contamination was detected in the drinking water catchment serving 30,000 people in the Blue Mountains in mid-2024. An eight-month WaterNSW investigation released earlier in May found contamination of two dams used for Blue Mountains drinking water may have occurred after separate motor vehicle accident sites on the Great Western Highway in 1992 and 2002 near the Medlow Bath township. The town's fire station was also a possible source of contamination. Test samples at all three sites revealed the chemical compound signature consistent with the historical use of PFAS-containing fire-fighting foam, banned nationwide in 2007. Under the authority's clean-up notice, 3M Australia has 60 days to submit a detailed plan to manage PFAS pollution. "This is a significant moment for the EPA and one that represents an important milestone in our efforts to address legacy environmental harm," the authority's operations director David Gathercole said. "Though this is only the first step ... 3M has so far been co-operative voluntarily offering to conduct investigation to better understand the extent and legacy of PFAS contamination." The company has been contacted for comment. A set of "dangerous and insidious" chemicals detected at a river near a World Heritage site have been traced back to a former quarry used by manufacturing giant 3M. PFAS soil, sediment, groundwater and surface water have been found across a 100-hectare area of the inactive Brogans Creek lime quarry northwest of the Blue Mountains, the NSW Environment Protection Authority says. The environment authority has for the first time issued a notice and taken regulatory action against 3M and its local Australian arm. The quarry, in the state's central west, was historically used by 3M to test PFAS-containing firefighting foam. While "the scale of the onsite contamination is significant", there is limited human exposure because of the remoteness of the site, the environment regulator said. However, it found some of the chemicals eight kilometres downstream in the Capertee River within a national park. The levels found were above the national drinking guidelines. Ian Wright, an environmental science professor at Western Sydney University, said more data needs to be gathered about the "dangerous and insidious" chemicals. "The Capertee River is just upstream of the Blue Mountains World Heritage area so it has extremely high biodiversity values," he told AAP. "Because these chemicals build and build ... it's a silent burden that humans and animals are carrying around ... that could have very poor health outcomes." PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of 15,000 highly toxic, synthetic chemicals used for their resistance to heat, stains and grease. They have been dubbed "forever chemicals" because they break down extremely slowly. Emerging evidence has linked some PFAS to cancer, leading to tighter regulation of the substances, particularly in drinking water. Even though the environment authority commended 3M for its co-operation, it said this is only the first step in what is likely a complex and lengthy remediation process to follow. Dr Wright warned this could be the beginning of a protracted legal battle to ascertain whether 3M or the local council ends up cleaning up the chemicals. "It's probably contaminated forever ... once the contamination is there, it's there for multiple lifetimes," he said. High-level contamination was detected in the drinking water catchment serving 30,000 people in the Blue Mountains in mid-2024. An eight-month WaterNSW investigation released earlier in May found contamination of two dams used for Blue Mountains drinking water may have occurred after separate motor vehicle accident sites on the Great Western Highway in 1992 and 2002 near the Medlow Bath township. The town's fire station was also a possible source of contamination. Test samples at all three sites revealed the chemical compound signature consistent with the historical use of PFAS-containing fire-fighting foam, banned nationwide in 2007. Under the authority's clean-up notice, 3M Australia has 60 days to submit a detailed plan to manage PFAS pollution. "This is a significant moment for the EPA and one that represents an important milestone in our efforts to address legacy environmental harm," the authority's operations director David Gathercole said. "Though this is only the first step ... 3M has so far been co-operative voluntarily offering to conduct investigation to better understand the extent and legacy of PFAS contamination." The company has been contacted for comment.
The Advertiser
30-05-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
Manufacturer 3M warned over chemicals at quarry
The chemical conglomerate behind Post-it notes and Scotch-Brite has been handed a yellow card over "significant contamination" from historic toxic chemicals found in a quarry it leased. PFAS soil, sediment, groundwater and surface water have been found across a 100-hectare area of the inactive Brogans Creek lime quarry northwest of the Blue Mountains, the NSW Environment Protection Authority says. The authority has for the first time issued a clean-up notice and took regulatory action against 3M and its local Australian arm. "This is a significant moment for the EPA and one that represents an important milestone in our efforts to address legacy environmental harm," Operations Director David Gathercole said. "Though this is only the first step ... 3M has so far been co-operative voluntarily offering to conduct investigation to better understand the extent and legacy of PFAS contamination." PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of 15,000 highly toxic, synthetic chemicals used for their resistance to heat, stains and grease. They have been dubbed "forever chemicals" because they break down extremely slowly. Emerging evidence has linked some PFAS substances to cancer, leading to tighter regulation of the substances, particularly in drinking water. The quarry, in the state's central west, was historically used by 3M to test PFAS-containing firefighting foam. The authority said while "the scale of the onsite contamination is significant", there is limited human exposure because of the remoteness of the site. However, it found some of the chemicals eight kilometres downstream in the Capertee River within a national park. They were considered to be above the national drinking guidelines. A sign has been erected warning park users to not drink river water. But recreational use including swimming remains safe, the authority said. Under the clean-up notice, 3M Australia has 60 days to submit a detailed plan to manage PFAS pollution. The company has been contacted for a comment. The chemical conglomerate behind Post-it notes and Scotch-Brite has been handed a yellow card over "significant contamination" from historic toxic chemicals found in a quarry it leased. PFAS soil, sediment, groundwater and surface water have been found across a 100-hectare area of the inactive Brogans Creek lime quarry northwest of the Blue Mountains, the NSW Environment Protection Authority says. The authority has for the first time issued a clean-up notice and took regulatory action against 3M and its local Australian arm. "This is a significant moment for the EPA and one that represents an important milestone in our efforts to address legacy environmental harm," Operations Director David Gathercole said. "Though this is only the first step ... 3M has so far been co-operative voluntarily offering to conduct investigation to better understand the extent and legacy of PFAS contamination." PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of 15,000 highly toxic, synthetic chemicals used for their resistance to heat, stains and grease. They have been dubbed "forever chemicals" because they break down extremely slowly. Emerging evidence has linked some PFAS substances to cancer, leading to tighter regulation of the substances, particularly in drinking water. The quarry, in the state's central west, was historically used by 3M to test PFAS-containing firefighting foam. The authority said while "the scale of the onsite contamination is significant", there is limited human exposure because of the remoteness of the site. However, it found some of the chemicals eight kilometres downstream in the Capertee River within a national park. They were considered to be above the national drinking guidelines. A sign has been erected warning park users to not drink river water. But recreational use including swimming remains safe, the authority said. Under the clean-up notice, 3M Australia has 60 days to submit a detailed plan to manage PFAS pollution. The company has been contacted for a comment. The chemical conglomerate behind Post-it notes and Scotch-Brite has been handed a yellow card over "significant contamination" from historic toxic chemicals found in a quarry it leased. PFAS soil, sediment, groundwater and surface water have been found across a 100-hectare area of the inactive Brogans Creek lime quarry northwest of the Blue Mountains, the NSW Environment Protection Authority says. The authority has for the first time issued a clean-up notice and took regulatory action against 3M and its local Australian arm. "This is a significant moment for the EPA and one that represents an important milestone in our efforts to address legacy environmental harm," Operations Director David Gathercole said. "Though this is only the first step ... 3M has so far been co-operative voluntarily offering to conduct investigation to better understand the extent and legacy of PFAS contamination." PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of 15,000 highly toxic, synthetic chemicals used for their resistance to heat, stains and grease. They have been dubbed "forever chemicals" because they break down extremely slowly. Emerging evidence has linked some PFAS substances to cancer, leading to tighter regulation of the substances, particularly in drinking water. The quarry, in the state's central west, was historically used by 3M to test PFAS-containing firefighting foam. The authority said while "the scale of the onsite contamination is significant", there is limited human exposure because of the remoteness of the site. However, it found some of the chemicals eight kilometres downstream in the Capertee River within a national park. They were considered to be above the national drinking guidelines. A sign has been erected warning park users to not drink river water. But recreational use including swimming remains safe, the authority said. Under the clean-up notice, 3M Australia has 60 days to submit a detailed plan to manage PFAS pollution. The company has been contacted for a comment. The chemical conglomerate behind Post-it notes and Scotch-Brite has been handed a yellow card over "significant contamination" from historic toxic chemicals found in a quarry it leased. PFAS soil, sediment, groundwater and surface water have been found across a 100-hectare area of the inactive Brogans Creek lime quarry northwest of the Blue Mountains, the NSW Environment Protection Authority says. The authority has for the first time issued a clean-up notice and took regulatory action against 3M and its local Australian arm. "This is a significant moment for the EPA and one that represents an important milestone in our efforts to address legacy environmental harm," Operations Director David Gathercole said. "Though this is only the first step ... 3M has so far been co-operative voluntarily offering to conduct investigation to better understand the extent and legacy of PFAS contamination." PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of 15,000 highly toxic, synthetic chemicals used for their resistance to heat, stains and grease. They have been dubbed "forever chemicals" because they break down extremely slowly. Emerging evidence has linked some PFAS substances to cancer, leading to tighter regulation of the substances, particularly in drinking water. The quarry, in the state's central west, was historically used by 3M to test PFAS-containing firefighting foam. The authority said while "the scale of the onsite contamination is significant", there is limited human exposure because of the remoteness of the site. However, it found some of the chemicals eight kilometres downstream in the Capertee River within a national park. They were considered to be above the national drinking guidelines. A sign has been erected warning park users to not drink river water. But recreational use including swimming remains safe, the authority said. Under the clean-up notice, 3M Australia has 60 days to submit a detailed plan to manage PFAS pollution. The company has been contacted for a comment.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Toxic Fast Food Condiment Mistake Everyone Needs To Avoid
Who doesn't love a splash of condiment with their fries? But before you start merrily squeezing bottles and sachets, the most serious of many mistakes people make at fast-food restaurants is one that's vital to avoid. It's official: It's time to go cold turkey on squirting condiments on paper bags. The hack might seem savvy, especially when you're bolting down burgers in the restrictive dining area of a driver's seat, or even seated inside your favorite fast-food restaraurant where crockery doesn't exist. But paper bags should never be used as makeshift plates or dipping bowls. According to a 2022 Consumer Reports study, this habit is — quite literally — toxic. It risks cross-contamination with a dangerous set of 10,000 substances, nicknamed the "forever chemicals," that are often found in fast-food packaging, particularly heat-, water-, and grease-repellent materials. The investigation found PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in varied packaging from many retailers when testing over 100 different products. Included in these alarm-bell-ringers were McDonald's, Trader Joe's, Burger King, and Chick-fil-A. Many of these companies have subsequently committed to reducing their reliance on PFAS-containing packaging. But is it worth the risk? Probably not. PFAS exposure is linked with cancer, organ damage, and hormonal difficulties; the chemicals transfer the exact risks to the environment, too, endangering wildlife. It's a dangerous cycle, so avoid non-traditional bag use and play it safe. Yes, it really is time to break the habit of a lifetime. Read more: For Fresh, Not Frozen Fast Food, Try These 12 Popular Chains Avoiding cross-contamination is a wise choice. Why juggle with fire? However, that is just one small step towards protecting yourself from PFAS. After committing to never again squirting condiments on your paper bags, what next? Ideally, limit the amount of fast food you consume. PFAS are heavily bio-accumulative, meaning they tend to build up in our systems over time. The less exposure to fast food, the lower your overall risk. If that sounds impossible, though, focus on limiting exposure to packaging instead. Remove the food from its wrappers immediately, and never reheat items in their original boxing. When heated, these containers can leach. Styrofoam and plastic are common culprits (hence why you should think twice before you reheat Chinese takeout in the containers). As for the future of fast-food packaging? You might recall that at least two fast food chains were sued over this forever chemicals report. One of these was McDonald's, which subsequently committed to eliminating all PFAS from its packaging by 2025. As of 2024, there were announcements that McDonald's was updating its McFlurry cups with sustainability in mind. And the FDA has said that packaging containing PFAS is no longer sold in the U.S. However, the agency continues to test many products and even allows them in some circumstances. In short, the needle is slowly moving. However, consumer awareness is non-negotiable — be proactive, and ensure you do your best to limit your own intake. There's no better protection than prevention. Read the original article on Tasting Table.
