Everyone enjoys fast food, but there are more reasons than you may think to feel as though fast food is outragously unhealthy. When most people purchase fast food they know that they are getting a very satisfyingly tasty meal, that is loaded with fat and high cholesterol, but it turns out that it is not just the food itself that can be causing health issues. In a report by The Environmental Science and Technology Letters, it found that one-third of fast food packaging contains fluorinated chemicals also known as PFASs

“I eat out a lot, and I love fast food even though I know it is unhealthy. I never would have guessed that I had more health concerns to worry about because of the packaging,” said Jefferson-Morgan student Julian Sisler.

Fluoride chemicals are being used in packaging because they act as water and stain repellents, but they also can act as catalysts in health issues. These issues consist of testicular cancer, thyroid problems, and changes in hormone function, amoung other serious heath conplications.

These chemicals, PFASs, are the same chemicals being used in furniture polish, wood stain, and cookware, but now they are also being used in fast food packaging. 

“It is pretty disturbing that these chemicals are coming in contact with the food we eat. Fast food is already unhealthy enough I can only imagine the damage it can do to our bodies when it has been in contact with these chemicals,”  said journalism student Michael Ludrosky. 

Unfortunately for consumers there is no way to definitively tell whether the packaging on your food contains fluoride chemicals or not. The best way to keep from contact with these chemicals is to limit fast food consumption and limit food migration. This means that the food should be taken out of the bag sooner to limit contact with these chemicals.