Impact of ‘safe’ chemicals in food on children

A new peer-reviewed study has found that exposure to supposedly “safe” new-generation plasticizers is associated with reduced birth weight and complications in fetal development that can cause serious health problems later in life.

As the health risks associated with exposure to conventional phthalate plasticizers have become apparent over the past few decades, the industry has begun to shift to a new type of chemical called Dinch, which it claims is a “highly safe” and non-toxic alternative. It is widely used in soft plastic food packaging in the United States and the European Union, as well as in children's toys, medical devices, certain textiles, flooring and other consumer products.

But it may not be as safe as the industry claims, as an analysis of U.S. federal health data by New York University at Langone suggests. Research on the health risks of children is scarce, although available evidence indicates that chemicals are hormonal disruptors that can affect children's development.

A new study has for the first time established a link between weight loss and life expectancy at birth. Problems with fetal growth may increase the risk of heart disease, learning difficulties, obesity and other problems that may manifest in adolescence and adulthood, the authors write.

“Chemicals need to be properly tested for their safety before they become widespread among unsuspecting people,” said Leonardo Trasande, lead author of the paper at New York University.

This chemical is officially called diisononil ether 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid. It is used to give plastic greater flexibility and durability and is included in common kitchen products such as food film and plastic wine corks.

The researchers examined data on more than 6,600 pregnancies collected through the National Institutes of Health’s Environmental Impact on Child Health (Echo) program. In 70% of the women, Dinch was found in the urine, and higher levels increased the risk that the baby would be classified as “small for gestational age” or fall below the 10th percentile for babies born at the same time.

Each tenfold increase in the dose of Dinch resulted in a 27-gram reduction in the weight of the newborn. On average, a newborn weighs about 3,400 grams, writes The Guardian.

Previous studies in animals and human cells have shown that Dinch byproducts can affect the production of hormones in a pregnant woman that drive fetal development, and can cause inflammation that affects how nutrients and oxygen are delivered to the baby, the study authors from New York University wrote.

The paper presents another classic example of industry replacing one hazardous chemical with a compound with similar health effects. This leads to a restart of the regulatory and research process, even though the new chemical is very similar in structure or carries the same health risks.

After US and EU regulators began cracking down on toxic phthalates such as DEHP, the industry began expanding its use of Dinch. German chemical giant BASF is among Dinch's biggest producers, and total global production rose from 25,000 tonnes in 2002 to 400,000 tonnes in 2024.

This process is called “regrettable replacement” and is common. For example, many chemical companies and manufacturers have replaced the most dangerous “perpetual chemicals.” But after years of research, it has been found that substitutes are also toxic.

Researchers at the Swiss Food Packaging Forum said they were concerned about Dinch and the lack of information about its health benefits. But there is evidence that it is migrating from packaging to food, and consumption rates among the EU population have been rising in recent decades. The Food Packaging Forum is currently conducting research on Dinch’s health benefits.

New York University’s findings “raise quite serious concerns about an unwanted replacement,” Trasande said.

“These findings highlight the need for stricter controls on chemicals used in food packaging and other household products, requiring that they be tested before they are on the market, not after they are linked to health concerns,” Trasande said, noting that the plastics agreement being negotiated at the United Nations is an opportunity to develop more effective policies.

Women can protect themselves and their children by buying as many items as possible, including clothes and toys, without using plastic. In the grocery store, it is better to buy products in glass packaging, and in the kitchen use glass or wooden items for storage and dishes.