2024-08-07 08:23:41
Think twice if you’re pregnant and you crave a packaged cake or a burger and shake on the go. That indulgence may do more than cause unwanted weight gain. A new study shows that phthalateschemicals associated with plastics, can leach from packaging and even from the plastic gloves worn by food handlers.
If consumed during pregnancy, these substances can harm the fetus, researchers warn.
“When mothers are exposed to this chemical, it can cross the placenta and enter the fetal circulation.“said the study’s lead author, Dra. Sheela Sathyanarayanapediatrician of UW Medicine and researcher of the Seattle Children’s Research Institute. She and her collaborators noted that the phthalates can cause inflammation and oxidative stress in the fetus. (Oxidative stress is a harmful chemical imbalance in the body.)
Previous research has linked exposure to phthalates during pregnancy to an increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and childhood disorders such as autism and ADHD.
The new study, published in a recent issue of the journal Environment Internationalexamined data from 1,031 pregnant women who enrolled in a separate study on mental development and learning between 2006 and 2011. Levels of phthalates were measured during the participants’ second trimester. On average, ultra-processed foods made up 39% of participants’ diets.
Each 10% increase in the proportion of ultra-processed foods was associated with a 13% higher level of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate.one of the most common and harmful of these chemicals.
The researchers noted that ultra-processed foods are largely made from substances extracted from foods such as oils, sugar and starch. Food companies add chemicals and preservatives to extend their shelf life or make them more appealing, and some are difficult to recognize from their original form. The researchers cited packaged cake mixes, potato chips, hamburger buns and soft drinks as examples.
However, when it comes to fast food, the gloves worn by workers and the tools they use in preparation, storage and service could be the main sources of exposure, the study found. The study’s lead author, Brennan Bakera postdoctoral researcher in Sathyanarayana’s lab, said both frozen and fresh ingredients are subject to these sources.
“We do not blame the pregnant person“We need to call on manufacturers and lawmakers to provide replacements that aren’t even more harmful,” Baker said in a university news release.
Researchers said this is the first study to show a link between ultra-processed foods, phthalate exposure and economic problems. The risk to mothers could be due to financial hardship, and living in areas with limited access to fresh, healthy foods is limited, they said. They called on officials to regulate the composition of food packaging and the gloves that food handlers can wear.
Meanwhile, Sathyanarayana urged pregnant women to avoid ultra-processed foods and reach for fruits, vegetables and lean meats instead. Read labels carefullyshe advised. “Look for the fewest ingredients and make sure you can understand the ingredients,” she said, adding that this applies even to “healthy foods” such as breakfast bars.
More information: The University of Michigan’s Ingredient Safety Research Center offers more information on food packaging safety.
FUENTE: Washington University School of Medicine, press release, February 7, 2024