Is Microwave Popcorn Safe to Eat?
PFAS and Popcorn
First, there was DDT. Then came BPA. The latest chemical acronym to become a household name is PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
The chemicals in this class are valued as strong surfactants and for their ability to repel water, grease, and stains. Among other uses, PFAS are added to paper products designed to hold hot, greasy foods.
PFAS, sometimes called forever chemicals, are a group of synthetic chemicals that resist breaking down in the environment over time. They're everywhere from tap water to car seats, carpets, makeup and waterproof and stain-resistant products — including, yes, items like the wrapper your hamburger comes in. Common food packaging that uses PFAS includes items you do not want to leak, such as:
Microwavable popcorn bags
Fast food wrappers
Takeout containers
Pet food bags
Research suggests that people who regularly consume microwave popcorn have markedly higher levels of PFAS in their bodies.
A 2017 study led by the Silent Spring Institute found grease-proof PFAS coatings on 46% of food-contact papers (such as hamburger wrappers) and 20% of paperboard samples (such as french fry boxes) collected from fast food restaurants throughout the United States.
A 2019 study looked at blood samples from 10,000 people and found associations between blood serum levels of five common PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, perfluorononanoic acid, perfluorodecanoic acid, and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid) and consumption of fast food, pizza, and microwave popcorn. People who ate microwave popcorn every day over the course of a year had levels of PFAS that were up to 63% higher than average.
A 2023 report, “Toxic Hazards in Microwave Popcorn” details testing of products from the American Popcorn company (Jolly Time brand popcorn), Ramsey Popcorn (Cousin Willie’s brand), Conagra (Act II brand), and Preferred Popcorn. All of the products purchased in Indonesia were imported from U.S. producers. “Kettle Korn” brand purchased in Indonesia tested with the highest concentration of PFAS. Among the US samples, “Jolly Time Blast O Butter” brand contained the highest PFAS levels. In addition, PFOA was found in a Jolly Time product for sale in Indonesia but food contact uses of PFOA are prohibited globally by the Stockholm Convention.
How Does PFAS Effect People?
A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified PFAS in 97% of Americans’ blood. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we know that there are associations between exposure to PFAS and health outcomes such as:
Increased cholesterol levels
Lower antibody response to vaccines
Pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia
Kidney and testicular cancer
Changes in liver enzymes
Lower birth weight
What’s Being Done to Reduce PFAS?
In 2020, the FDA engaged companies to cease sales of grease-proofing substances that contain certain types of PFAS following our post-market safety assessment.
In committing to eliminating PFAS, Conagra joins a growing list of companies including Ahold Delhaize, Starbucks, McDonald’s, Burger King (RBI), Whole Foods Market, and others that have committed to eliminating PFAS from their food packaging.
According to a new statement from the Food and Drug Administration in 2024, products with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are no longer being sold by manufacturers for use in materials that come into contact with food in the United States.
To avoid PFAS in popcorn, you can make your own popcorn on the stove or in a covered bowl or paper bag in the microwave. Microwave popcorn bags are often coated with PFAS, which can leach into the popcorn and into the air when the bag is opened. If you have them in your home and they were purchased before 2024, best to discard them.
