Kerrygold butter, a beloved staple in many American households, was pulled off numerous supermarket shelves late last year due to concerns over the presence of PFAS chemicals, and this is only one of the dangers currently on the market.
Known as “Forever Chemicals,” PFAS are synthetic compounds used in a wide range of consumer products since the 1950s. Their popularity stems from their ability to make products resistant to heat, water and oil, making them ideal for food packaging, cleaning products, cookware and personal care items. However, these chemicals tend to migrate from the packaging into the products themselves, and when PFAS enter the body, they can cause serious health problems such as types of cancer, changes in liver enzymes, increases in cholesterol levels and similar health issues.
Due to these significant health risks, the FDA announced in June that grease-proofing substances using PFAS are no longer allowed to be distributed in the United States. However, PFAS stay in the body for many years after first being exposed, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that these toxic chemicals are found in the blood of 97 percent of Americans because of our high exposure to these products.
PFAS contamination is not limited to food packaging. These harmful chemicals can also be found in many period products, including well-known brands like Tampax and Thinx. They can also be found in tap water (including in Georgia), certain dental flosses (Colgate, Oral-B) and many waterproof makeup products (L’Oréal, Maybelline).
Despite the widespread presence of PFAS in everyday products, many people remain unaware of the risks they carry. “It’s scary that something so harmful is in so many things we use daily, especially since I have never even heard of it,” Madeleine Hall ‘27 says. As these toxins continue to show up in unexpected places—from butter to period products—it is important to be aware of what you are bringing into your home.
