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Mapping corporate ties between ultra-processed food and petrochemical industries
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This study mapped the business connections between companies that make ultra-processed foods (think packaged snacks, sodas, and instant meals) and the petrochemical industry, which supplies the plastics and chemicals used to grow ingredients and package these products. The findings suggest these two industries are more financially intertwined than most people realize, meaning your food choices may be tied to fossil fuel companies' bottom lines, and to your exposure to plastic packaging chemicals and microplastics that can leach into food. Understanding these corporate links matters because it helps explain why UPFs are so cheap and widespread, and raises questions about whether health and environ
The global expansion of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has been highly dependent on petrochemicals for agricultural inputs and single-use plastic packaging. However, despite this reliance, corporate ties between food and petrochemical industries have not been studied. Using network analysis, we ...
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This paper proposes that microplastics in ultra-processed foods may partly explain why these foods are linked to worse mental health outcomes. With over 50% of calories in the U.S. coming from ultra-processed sources, and recent findings showing alarming microplastic levels in human brains, the authors suggest that food processing and packaging introduce microplastics that could affect brain function.
Is the petrochemical industry an overlooked critical source of environmental microplastics?
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Researchers found that a petrochemical wastewater treatment plant is a significant but overlooked source of environmental microplastics, with high abundances detected in influent, effluent, and sludge, suggesting the petrochemical industry warrants greater scrutiny.
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This Croatian undergraduate thesis summarizes the presence of microplastic-related chemicals in food, identifying major polymers including polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, and PET that have been detected in food samples. The author notes that research on the health effects of consuming microplastic-contaminated food remains limited.
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This study analyzed the toxic chemicals found in consumer plastic products, including additives, monomers, and processing by-products that can leach into food or the environment. The findings highlight that plastic toxicity extends beyond microplastic particles themselves — the chemicals embedded in plastics pose significant health risks through food packaging and environmental contamination.
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This review examines how plastics used in food packaging gradually degrade into microplastics that leach into food and beverages, posing potential health risks to consumers. It surveys the main plastic types used in the food industry, the health concerns associated with microplastic and additive exposure, and proposed solutions including biodegradable alternatives. The findings underscore that everyday food packaging is a significant and underappreciated source of microplastic exposure for the general public.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.