Your fast food wrappers contain toxic chemicals. Why is that allowed? | Norah MacKendrick

Fast food boxes and wrappers contain toxic chemicals known to interfere with our reproductive systems and contribute to attention and learning disorders

It's no surprise that fast food is generally bad for your health. But now there's a new reason to worry: according to a new study out of George Washington University, fast-food containers (such as wrappers used for burgers and burritos) contain toxic chemicals known to interfere with our reproductive systems and contribute to attention and learning disorders. Put simply, our hamburgers and burritos are wrapped in toxic waste.

Many convenience foods come with an ingredient list showing consumers what went into the product they're eating or drinking. Of course, this list doesn't include the chemicals used to make the box, bag or wrapper encasing the food, or other materials that come into contact with our meal - like the plastic gloves used to handle the sandwich toppings. But these compounds make their way into our food and we ingest them.

Norah MacKendrick is an associate professor of sociology at Rutgers University and the author of Better Safe Than Sorry: How Consumers Navigate Everyday Toxics