PRESS RELEASE
New Study Finds Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in California WIC-Approved Foods
A new report by our good friends at the Clean Label Project reveals the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in a range of food products approved for California’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program—sparking an important conversation about chemical exposure among some of the state’s most vulnerable populations.
But the conversation is much broader. These are foods like organic artichokes, corn, green beans, sugar snap peas, canned diced tomatoes, and canned garbanzo beans, widely eaten by the general population.
This study underscores the need to broaden the narrative beyond the ingredients themselves and consider the role of food packaging and processing materials in contributing to chemical contamination. The findings show that phthalates and BPA—endocrine-disrupting chemicals linked to developmental, reproductive, and metabolic health concerns—can be present in the finished food products. In many cases, these contaminants likely originate not from the food source but from upstream components of the supply chain, including processing equipment, packaging materials, and storage conditions. It is also possible that the contaminants come from the farm. Plastic mulch is widely used to control weeds in the growing of fruits and vegetables we eat daily. Microplastic-encapsulated synthetic pesticides and fertilizers used in conventional agriculture are another possible source of contamination.
Food contact materials like plastic containers, cans, wraps, and bags can leach harmful substances into the foods they’re intended to protect, often without being subject to the same level of scrutiny as the food itself.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are linked to a long list of health harms, including problems for women like a delayed period, increased appetite, and acne breakouts. It can also complicate becoming pregnant, and increase the likelihood of miscarriage, early births, or late births with complications. Phthalates can be passed from mom to baby during pregnancy and children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of phthalate exposure as their bodies are still developing. In boys, these chemicals can interfere with the development of reproductive organs, leading to problems like malformed genitals, low sperm count, and even cancer. For girls, it can cause periods to start early and limit the number of eggs they develop leading to infertility. In all young children these chemicals can make puberty start too early or too late.
Did you know that phthalates can accumulate in household dust? Regular cleaning and ventilation can help lower your family’s exposure.
It’s time to take these health risks seriously. Learn more about the study, and more ways to reduce your exposure to these endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can cause devastating long-term harm at ultra-low levels.
Read Clean Label Project’s official press release HERE.
Press inquiries contact:
Kate Stuard, Clean Label Project
Clean Label Project: Endocrine Disruptor Study
Proyecto de Etiqueta Limpia: Estudio sobre disruptores endocrinos
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