Study Finds Toxic PFAS Chemicals in Moroccan Food Packaging

Conducted by the Moroccan Association for Environmental Health and Toxicovigilance (AMSETOX), in partnership with the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), this study revealed the presence of PFAS in 64 out of 119 single-use food packaging made of paper, cardboard and molded plant-based fibers, purchased in 17 countries, including Morocco. "The samples were purchased and sent to the same laboratory for testing. The samples came from Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Iraq, Montenegro, Jamaica, Mexico, Argentina, Benin, Zambia, Cameroon, Philippines, Taiwan, Nepal and India. Tests were done for 58 specific PFAS and for extractable organic fluorine (EOF)," explains Dr. Naima Rhalem, president of AMSETOX, to the newspaper Le Matin.

Among the food samples purchased in Morocco, two contained PFAS. "It was packaging for fries purchased from an international fast food chain and cake packaging purchased from an international franchise located in Morocco. The chains were notified by letter. The association also notified the relevant ministerial departments to take the necessary measures and to encourage them to regulate this aspect," says the expert, specifying that PFAS are the cause of diseases such as cancer, infertility and endocrine disruption.

"PFAS are widely used in single-use food packaging, especially in fast food, which particularly exposes young people who are major consumers of this fast food to the effects of PFAS that can disrupt the body’s natural hormones," added Badrane. The president of AMSETOX, for her part, recalls that "three PFAS and their related substances are among the most highly toxic chemicals known and are banned worldwide. However, there is no comprehensive global regulation to protect the environment and human health against all PFAS."

"In Morocco, Decree No. 2-10-473 of 7 Shawwal 1432 (September 6, 2011), issued for the application of certain provisions of Law No. 28-07 on the health safety of food products, and the joint decree between several ministries, No. 3283-17 of 16 Ramadan 1440 (May 22, 2019), setting the hygiene conditions applicable to the transport of food products and animal feed, mention food packaging without, however, setting their chemical composition. An improvement of this regulatory framework integrating PFAS is recommended to protect both consumer health and the environment by ensuring PFAS-free food packaging," recommends Dr. Rhalem.