TORONTO -- McDonald鈥檚 will be phasing out polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of toxic chemicals, from its food packaging materials over the next five years, the .
The company said on its website it was committed to removing 鈥渁ll added fluorinated compounds from our guest packaging materials globally by 2025.鈥�
It has already eliminated other toxic chemicals from its packaging, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and () in 2008, and all BPA, BPS in 2013 and phthalates in 2015, according to the company.
The move comes after a report released last year found that nearly half of all take-out food packaging tested from a number of major fast food restaurants in the United States, including McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy鈥檚, contained toxic 鈥渇orever chemicals鈥� that could pose health risks. No packaging from Canada was tested in the study.
PFAS are used to 鈥済rease-proof鈥� food packaging materials, but studies have suggested there may be links between exposure to the chemicals and , .
鈥淲e are pleased to see McDonald鈥檚 act on the PFAS threat and take steps to eliminate these toxic chemicals from their packaging, however, they need to get the phaseout done much sooner,鈥� said Muhannad Malas, Toxics Program Manager at Environmental Defence .
鈥淧FAS disproportionately harms Inuit communities in Canada鈥檚 Arctic who, according to scientific research, are exposed to higher levels of PFAS than the average Canadian from pollution originating in places like Toronto and Vancouver.鈥�
