Grocery Ahold Delhaize just announced they will be phasing out toxic PFAS chemicals from their own branded products in food packaging and beauty products in their stores by 2020. Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are very problematic to the health of humans and our planet, so we are very pleased Grocer Ahold Delhaize has taken this vow to protect its consumers. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like safest cookware, best organic mattresses, and best probiotics, now join us as we celebrate Ahold Delhaize banning toxic PFAS chemicals in their food packaging and beauty products!
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What Are Perfluorinated Chemicals & Why Are They Inside Food Packaging
Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) can also be referred to as perfluorinated chemicals. These chemicals provide stain resistance, water resistance, and grease resistance to billions of consumer products throughout the world. If you have heard of StainMaster Carpets, Teflon pans, Scotchgard, or Gortex, you’ve already heard of them. When it comes to food packaging, PFAS chemicals can be found in lots of places. Here are some examples:
- coat the top of pizza boxes
- coat the inside of “to-go” boxes
- coat the inside of food wrappers
- coat the top of cardboard cake stands
- coat the inside of food boats
- coat the inside of microwave popcorn bags
- coat the inside of cups for hot liquids
- hold cane sugar fibers together in cane sugar plates
- hold cane sugar fibers together in cane sugar bowels and food boats
PFAS Chemicals Are Also Found in Beauty Products
When it comes to beauty products, PFAS chemicals were found in 200 different products from 28 brands according to a study done by the Environmental Working Group. Some of these brands were household names like Clinique, Bare Minerals, Beauty Pro, Bliss, e.l.f., Gillette, Laura Mercier, & Mac. Look for these chemicals in your cosmetics to avoid. Here’s a list of chemicals to avoid in your beauty products:
- PTFE (Teflon)
- Perfluorononyl Dimethicone
- Perfluorodecalin
- C9-15 Fluoroalcohol Phosphate
- Octafluoropentyl Methacrylate
- Perfluorohexane
- Pentafluoropropane
- Polyperfluoroethoxymethoxy Difluoroethyl Peg Phosphate
- Polyperfluoroethoxymethoxy Peg-2 Phosphate
- Methyl Perfluorobutyl Ether
- Perfluorononylethyl Carboxydecyl Peg-10 Dimethicone
- Perfluorodimethylcyclohexane
- Perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene
Perfluorinated (PFAS) Chemicals are Toxic to Humans & The Earth
Companies producing Perfluorinated (PFAS) chemicals swear by their safety and the brands that use them state the same, however, these chemicals are endocrine-disrupting and extremely problematic to human health and the environment. They have also found to be persistent, meaning they build up in the environment and don’t go away. And because of all this, they have been linked to several health issues that your family doesn’t want.
- low sperm count
- smaller penis size
- reduction in immunity
- metabolic diseases like obesity & diabetes
- reduced vaccination response
- ulcerative colitis
- affect the growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children
- lower a woman’s chance of getting pregnant
- interfere with the body’s natural hormones
- increase cholesterol levels
- increase the risk of cancer like testicular, prostate and breast cancers
Grocer Ahold Delhaize Bans PFAS – Is The First Brand to Make a Pledge to Remove PFAS from Food Packaging and Beauty Products!
The great news today is Grocer Ahold Delhaize is phasing out Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in their food packaging and beauty products. They also made pledges to restrict bisphenol-A (BPA), along with the other bisphenols, ortho-phthalates, and other chemicals sold across their 2,000 stores nationwide. The policy applies to its own branded products in the following categories: baby products, baby food, infant formula, all grocery, formulated laundry, home, personal care, & cosmetic.
Ahold Delhaize is the fourth largest dedicated grocery chain in the United States with major supermarket chains Food Lion, Giant Food, GIANT/Martin’s, Hannaford, Stop & Shop and online grocer Peapod.
They did not give a timeline as to when we could expect these changes, so we would like to see one from them soon. And they also did not fully disclose their restricted substance list (RSL), which we would also love to see. But thanks to the Mind The Store Campaign with Safer Chemicals Safer Families, several retailers are changing their tune about toxic chemicals in the products inside our homes. Check out their Mind the Store Report and efforts to work with retailers to restrict dangerous chemicals from products.
Home Depot Phasing Out Toxic PFAS Chemicals in Carpets & Rugs
Thanks for sharing the news on this important market move.
We hope other top grocery chains like Kroger, Albertsons, and Publix will follow suit!