A recent article published in Nature Medicine highlights the ubiquitous presence of synthetic chemicals in the global food supply and emphasizes the need to transition to a safer, more sustainable food system.

In short:

• The industrial global food system relies heavily on synthetic chemicals — including pesticides, additives, plastics and food contact materials — to preserve perishable foods.
• There are four main pathways for contamination by food contact chemicals: food processing, transportation, packaging, and preparation.
• Many food contact chemicals have been linked to significant harm to human health, and while there are more than 15,000 known food contact chemicals, up to 100,000 are estimated to exist.
• The authors emphasize the need for policy interventions to protect public health, including overhauling chemical regulations and policies that reduce ultra processed foods.