Plastic packaging cancer link
Compounds found in plastic products used to wrap or contain food and beverages have aroused concerns as possible cancer-causing agents because they can sometimes leach out of the plastic and migrate into the food, researchers are claiming.
The likelihood of this happening is said to be increased after heating or when the plastic is old or scratched. In two studies funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, US, have demonstrated that two plasticiser compounds, BPA and BBP, are environmental estrogens capable of affecting gene expression in the mammary glands of young female laboratory rats exposed to the compounds through their mothers' milk.
BPA (bisphenol A) is a synthetic resin used in food packaging, dental sealants and polycarbonate plastic products, which range from CDs and eyeglass lenses to tableware and food and beverage containers, including baby bottles. BBP (n-butyl benzyl phthalate) is a widely used plasticiser used in food wraps and cosmetics.
Charles Sturt scientist contributes to UN food safety panel
The parasitology and food safety scientist contributed to the UN expert panel working on...
Beefing up the flavour of cultured meat
Scientist working towards perfecting the taste of lab-grown 'cultured' meat are a step...
Drinking coffee linked with healthy aging in women
A study has found women who consumed caffeinated coffee in midlife are more likely to exhibit...