Plastic food packaging chemicals linked to lower birth weight

Exposure to a new generation of plasticizers marketed as safe alternatives is linked to lower birth weight and fetal development complications, according to the Guardian. The newspaper reported that a new peer-reviewed study discovered these health complications, which could lead to serious health problems later in life for affected children. [1]

The chemical Dinch was introduced by industry after the health risks of common phthalate plasticizers became clear over recent decades. The Guardian reported that industry claimed Dinch was a non-toxic alternative with high safety standards. However, the study found that the chemical is also linked to complications in fetal development. [1]

Dinch is currently used widely in soft plastics, including plastic food packaging across both the European Union and the United States. The Guardian noted that the chemical was developed specifically to replace older phthalates that presented established health risks. [1]