Packaging Chemicals Found in Breast Milk, Says Study

Chemicals found in food packaging and other products appear to be transferred by nursing mothers to their babies via breast milk, researchers have found.

The new research suggests that mothers may need to be more aware of the products they are consuming when breast-feeding.

"Perfluorinated compounds, or PFCs, are found in human blood around the world, including the blood of newborns, but this is the first study in the United States to document their occurrence in human milk," said Kathleen Arcaro, lead researcher and professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the US.

"While nursing does not expose infants to a dose that exceeds recommended limits, breast milk should be considered as an additional source of PFCs when determining a child's total exposure," advised Arcaro.

PFCs are suspected cancer-causing chemicals found in grease-resistant packaging such as microwave popcorn bags and pizza boxes, as well as fish and other animals. Exposure can also come from personal care products including dental floss and shampoo.

The chemicals can linger in the environment and the human body for years without being broken down.

Read the full FoodProductionDaily.com story here.