NY legislators vote to ban PFAS chemicals in food packaging
ALBANY, N.Y. (WENY) -- New York legislators have passed a bill banning the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of food packaging containing PFAS chemicals.
If Governor Cuomo signs the measure, these chemicals will no longer be allowed as a coating on wrappers, cardboard, plastic containers, or other materials found in some fast food and grocery store establishments.
According to WRGB, PFAS chemicals have already contaminated drinking water in New York State, and lawmakers are trying to prevent this from happening to the food residents eat.
“We’re seeing Hannaford, Stop & Shop, Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s, Taco Bell, Chipotle, and Panera in their take/out containers...they’re going to stop the use of this," Assemblymember Pay Fahy said. "They’re on track to stop the use and even under this administration, the Trump administration, they have said we’re going to phase this out of any of our ready-to-eat meals in the military.”
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PFAS are very persistent in the human body, meaning they don't break down and can accumulate over time, leading to adverse health effects.
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