Giving Compass' Take:

· Writing for the Surfrider Foundation, Rachael Coccia explains how toxic chemicals found in food packaging can easily transfer over to our food, putting us at risk of exposure. In order to avoid these risks, we must find reusable and environmentally friendly alternatives.

· What are some other ways we can reduce our exposure to toxic chemicals? What packaging alternatives are available to reduce toxic exposure in our foods?

· Check out this Giving Compass original to learn more about this topic and how to take action for a toxic-free future.

We’ve all been there. Standing in an aisle of the grocery store or market trying to decide which brand to buy. How do you decide? Is it based solely on getting the lowest price per quantity or do you factor in the quality of the food and choose a brand you trust? Maybe you even splurge and go for the option that is labeled organic. But have you ever considered the quality of the packaging? Your good intentions may be thwarted by pesky plastic.

The recent 2019 Unwrapped Conference brought together scientists, public health leaders, plastic pollution advocates, and solutions-oriented companies from around the world to identify the human health threats associated with plastics and to strategize for solutions. According to the scientists, toxic chemicals can migrate from many types of food packaging directly into the food we eat. These chemicals cause a wide array of health issues ranging from lower IQs, poor reproductive outcomes, higher levels of anxiety and depression, a variety of cancers, even an increased risk of obesity, among many other concerns.

The good news is we can avoid these chemicals if we choose to consume products out of healthier materials.

Read the full article about choosing reusable materials by Rachael Coccia at the Surfrider Foundation.