Plastic chemicals could be present in some popular organic food products, according to Consumer Reports, a nonprofit organization dedicated to independent product testing.
The website has created a petition urging Annie’s Homegrown and its parent company General Mills to remove plasticizers from their products, claiming that a series of tests revealed the presence of an ingredient which is added to plastic to make it softer and more flexible in some products.
“Annie’s is now the third largest producer of organic products, and markets itself on its sustainable ingredient sourcing, a selling point for those trying to buy healthy food for their families,” the petition said. “But buying Annie’s organic shouldn’t come with the unexpected risk of plastic chemicals.”
Consumer Reports delivered the 30,000-signature petition to the General Mills headquarters in Golden Valley, Minnesota, on Thursday, said a report by CBS News.
According to the petition, Consumer Reports conducted recent tests of 85 different foods to evaluate the products for the presence of “risky plastic chemicals.”
It claims to have found some of the highest concentrations of plastic chemicals known as phthalates in Annie’s Organic Cheesy Ravioli, a canned pasta product from Annie’s Homegrown.
Phthalates are chemicals used in plastic products, including some food packaging, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).They are a “plasticizer known to interfere with the production of hormones – increasing the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and birth defects,” according to the petition.
Consumer Reports Director of Food Policy Brian Ronholm told Newsweek that the organization’s efforts have proved successful in the past with other companies, such as when they urged Just Born, the manufacturer of PEEPS candies, to cease using Red Dye 3 in their products.
In addition to the petition, Ronholm said Consumer Reports sent a letter to General Mills in February.
However, a General Mills spokesperson told Newsweek that the company believes the Consumer Reports claims are misleading.
“We are disappointed with the claims made by Consumer Reports and believe their study is misleading,” said General Mills spokesperson Mollie Wulff. “Food safety is and always has been our top priority. We’re incredibly proud of our products, serve them in our homes and stand by their quality.”
When it comes to how phthalates may have ended up in Annie’s Homegrown products, Brian Ronholm, director of food policy for Consumer Reports, said it’s possible the phthalates were included in the packaging or the product was exposed during production, according to the CBS News report.
The Consumer Reports tests also claim that other General Mills products contained phthalates. The products included brands like Yoplait, Cheerios, Green Giant and Progresso.
The FDA prevents phthalates from being added directly to food, but the organization does allow nine phthalates in food contact applications, such as packaging.
In other food-related news, some Americans have been more cognizant of the foods they consume after various recalls have been issued by the FDA, warning of issues like unintended ingredients, the presence of bacteria or other issues. For example, the FDA recently issued a Class 1 recall for some cheese sold in Utah after it was discovered to be contaminated by listeria. No injuries were reported in regard to the recall.
