Tell Congress: Toxic PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Don’t Belong in Food or Food Packaging

From Clean Water Action (http://www.cleanwateraction.org/):

Millions of pieces of food packaging containing toxic PFAS chemicals are used and discarded each day—but new legislation would change that.

Our allies in Congress just introduced a bill to ban PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from all food contact materials. This would guarantee your takeout meals wouldn’t come packaged in these toxic chemicals. And it would lower the amount of PFAS pollution entering our environment and drinking water.

If members of Congress hear from enough concerned constituents like you, we can lift this non-partisan issue above the noise in DC. Will you urge your representative and senators to support the bill at https://cleanwater.salsalabs.org/national-action-pfas-congress/index.html?

Exposure to PFAS is linked to serious health problems, including a weaker immune system and cancer. Why use highly toxic chemicals to make your takeout salad bowl or sandwich wrapper resistant to oil and water? It makes no sense, especially since safer alternatives are available.

In fact, seven states have passed bans on PFAS in food packaging—and even companies from Whole Foods to McDonald’s are taking action on this. Now, your action can help put safer alternatives in place everywhere across the country.

The PFAS from food packaging can rub off onto food and expose the person eating it. But even before that, the production of the chemicals and packaging can pollute the drinking water around the factories.

One such facility in Alabama has polluted local drinking water for decades. And residents worry that it’s part of the reason they have high rates of cancer and other health problems. This is not only a consumer issue—it’s also a justice issue.

Will you send a message to your members of Congress? If enough of us act, we can get this bill passed!

Because they never break down in the environment, PFAS are known as “forever chemicals.” We must stop the production of PFAS for food packaging and other products like rain jackets and stain-resistant home goods.

A recent peer-reviewed study found these chemicals in the breast milk of all 50 moms who participated. No parent should have to worry about exposing their child to toxic chemicals.

Until Congress makes it law, the chemical industry will continue to make PFAS chemicals for America’s food packaging. That’s why Representatives Debbie Dingell and Don Young introduced the Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act in the House and Senator Maggie Hassan introduced it in the Senate. To get the bill passed, we must show bipartisan support.