Nation & World News

FDA bans 3 chemicals found in pizza boxes, other food packaging

By Melissa Prax
Jan 6, 2016

Editor's note: A previous version of this story included information about other chemicals approved by the FDA for packaging. The FDA says the approval of those chemicals is not linked to the three that were banned.


Don't worry, nothing is terribly wrong with your pizza. Unless it was delivered in that classic cardboard box.

The Food and Drug Administration is banning three chemicals that are often found in food packaging like pizza boxes and microwave popcorn bags. The ban will go into effect early this year.

So what's wrong with these chemicals? They're carcinogenic and can cause birth defects.

There have been a few groups trying to get these chemicals out of packaging for a while. In fact, a total of nine different groups filed petitions to ban the chemicals. (Video via Environmental Working Group)

This video includes images from Ben Dalton / CC BY SA 2.0 and Don Nunn / CC BY SA 2.0.

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Melissa Prax

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