Michael Greger: How Ultra-Processed Foods Could Cause Disease: Packaging Chemicals

Key Takeaways

• Avoid ultra-processed foods to reduce exposure to harmful packaging chemicals like bisphenols (BPA, BPF) and phthalates, which are linked to hormone disruption and chronic diseases.
• Choose fresh or minimally processed foods over canned or packaged options, as even short-term dietary changes can significantly lower urinary levels of these contaminants.
• Reduce poultry consumption, as it’s a major dietary source of DEHP (a harmful phthalate), especially in minimally processed forms.
• Check labels for BPA-free packaging when buying canned goods, and prioritize brands that explicitly avoid BPA linings (e.g., Eden Foods, Amy’s, Trader Joe’s).
• Limit canned food intake—eating fresh soup instead of canned for just five days can reduce BPA exposure by 90%.

Notable Quotes

“Anytime some chemical company comes up with a new preservative or sweetener or artificial color, we have no idea how it will eventually turn out.”

“Trans fats from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil killed people for decades before there were any limits on it.”

Bottom Line

Prioritize fresh, whole foods and BPA-free packaging to minimize exposure to harmful chemicals linked to chronic diseases—ultra-processed foods and their packaging pose hidden risks.

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