The Food and Drug Administration has banned chemicals that are used in pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags, and fast-food packaging.
The perfluorinated chemicals are generally used to grease-proof paper wrappers and containers that carry food, the FDA said in a release. They have been used to prevent the foods from leaking through the packaging.
In another release, the FDA said the agency has determined that these chemicals can have toxic effects on humans and animals.
The move to ban the chemicals is in response to a petition made by multiple health advocacy groups that claims the chemicals cause cancer and birth defects.
However, the FDA said many companies voluntarily stopped distributing products that contain these chemicals as of Oct. 1, 2011.
The agency also said existing supplies of the products using the chemicals can be used until they run out. This is because they will be on the marketplace for a short period of time, and the danger of the chemicals is a “result of chronic exposure to such substances.”
“FDA has determined that the exposure which will occur during this sell-off period will not impact public health,” the agency said in a statement.
