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After watching Dark Waters and becoming fearful of PFAS, I don't understand how these PFAS aren't completely eliminated from production. Is it because they help

After watching Dark Waters and becoming fearful of PFAS, I don't understand how these PFAS aren't completely eliminated from production. Is it because they help reduce spoilage/leakage which allows food to travel further and increase shelf life? Do the lobbyists argue that this reduces food waste? How is it legal for Sweetgreen, Cava and other restaurants to use PFAS in "compostable" food packaging and make it seem like a "sustainable" alternative to plastic packaging? [1] It's difficult for me to contain my emotions whenever I read about PFAS being found in yet another common material and certain government bodies trying to deregulate safety inspections [2]. [1] https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-contaminants/dangerous-pfas-chemicals-are-in-your-food-packaging-a3786252074/ https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-contaminants/dan... [2] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/28/trump-second-term-pfas-forever-chemicals-pollution https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/28/trum...

roldie 2y ago
I'm also feeling quite worried about it. Per your first link, I didn't realize that the compostable alternatives I try to seek out could be just as bad or worse. The article corroborates unfortunately: >Most of the chemicals leaching from food packaging come from plastics, but not all of them. “Probably the worst one is recycled paper and cardboard,” Muncke said. “And I know that’s a hard one to stomach.” Recycling paper, cardboard or plastic for food packaging leads to nonfood grade inks mixed in next to food, she explained, adding to the chemical risks.
yojo 2y ago
The one that recently shocked me was modeling clay. My elementary school kid loves playing with clay, so I bought him some Fimo, which is proudly marketed as “non-toxic.” On a lark I looked it up anyway. It’s 11-14% phthalates by weight![1]. All the polymer clays are necessarily high in it - they’re made by compositing clay, PVC, and plasticizers. Blew my mind, and we’re giving this stuff to kids! [1] https://pirg.org/resources/hidden-hazards/ https://pirg.org/resources/hidden-hazards/
- irrational 2y ago
  When I was a kid, they still allowed us to play with Mercury with our bare hands in elementary school.
  - krustyburger 2y ago
    Well, that seems safe enough. It’s the smallest planet, after all.
    - mc32 2y ago
      For the titans maybe but not for regular mortals.
  - blipvert 2y ago
    My dad gave mercury toys (tilt mazes with mercury blobs in, etc) to my siblings and I. And he was a chemistry teacher!
    - daymanstep 2y ago
      Elemental mercury isn't that toxic. It's the vapors that are dangerous.
      - blipvert 2y ago
        Fair point, but I still wouldn’t give my idiot 10yr old self that stuff. He never did really understand me.
      - Unbefleckt 2y ago
        I had the original Warhammer figurines as a kid that my older brother didn't want. I remember bending the metal (I was maybe 4 or 5) and putting it in my mouth for some reason like I did with lego when I couldn't snap a piece off. I ended up swallowing a piece and vomiting up a bit of eldar soon after. Still have pleasant associations with the smell of lead thanks to warhammer.
  - 2y ago

roldie 2y ago

I'm also feeling quite worried about it. Per your first link, I didn't realize that the compostable alternatives I try to seek out could be just as bad or worse. The article corroborates unfortunately: >Most of the chemicals leaching from food packaging come from plastics, but not all of them. “Probably the worst one is recycled paper and cardboard,” Muncke said. “And I know that’s a hard one to stomach.” Recycling paper, cardboard or plastic for food packaging leads to nonfood grade inks mixed in next to food, she explained, adding to the chemical risks.

yojo 2y ago

The one that recently shocked me was modeling clay. My elementary school kid loves playing with clay, so I bought him some Fimo, which is proudly marketed as “non-toxic.” On a lark I looked it up anyway. It’s 11-14% phthalates by weight![1]. All the polymer clays are necessarily high in it - they’re made by compositing clay, PVC, and plasticizers. Blew my mind, and we’re giving this stuff to kids! [1] https://pirg.org/resources/hidden-hazards/ https://pirg.org/resources/hidden-hazards/

irrational 2y ago
When I was a kid, they still allowed us to play with Mercury with our bare hands in elementary school.
- krustyburger 2y ago
  Well, that seems safe enough. It’s the smallest planet, after all.
  - mc32 2y ago
    For the titans maybe but not for regular mortals.
- blipvert 2y ago
  My dad gave mercury toys (tilt mazes with mercury blobs in, etc) to my siblings and I. And he was a chemistry teacher!
  - daymanstep 2y ago
    Elemental mercury isn't that toxic. It's the vapors that are dangerous.
    - blipvert 2y ago
      Fair point, but I still wouldn’t give my idiot 10yr old self that stuff. He never did really understand me.
    - Unbefleckt 2y ago
      I had the original Warhammer figurines as a kid that my older brother didn't want. I remember bending the metal (I was maybe 4 or 5) and putting it in my mouth for some reason like I did with lego when I couldn't snap a piece off. I ended up swallowing a piece and vomiting up a bit of eldar soon after. Still have pleasant associations with the smell of lead thanks to warhammer.
- 2y ago