Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

Food

FDA: Pizza Boxes May Cause Cancer

By

Nell Casey

Published Jan 7, 2016

Modified Jan 7, 2016

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

This is recyclable

 

By

Nell Casey

Published Jan 7, 2016

Modified Jan 7, 2016

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Pizza boxes are functional, collectable, customizable, recyclable and now: toxic. More specifically, three types of chemicals used to produce pizza boxes and other food packaging have been found to be toxic to humans, resulting in cancer and birth defects. Three types of perfluoroalkyl ethyl are set to be banned by the FDA, who have declared there is "no longer reasonable certainty" that harm does not come from exposure to these chemicals.

The chemicals used to create the containers act as a sealant to protect the packaging from being soaked with oil or water during transport—and they're prolific. In addition to some pizza boxes, the chemicals can also be found in microwave popcorn bags and food packaged for both humans and animals.

Alarmingly, evidence to support the chemicals' toxicity has been around for over a decade, and many chemical companies have even stopped producing the chemicals, reports Bloomberg Bureau of National Affairs. In fact, the Environmental Working Group sees the ban as a hollow one: "Industrial chemicals that pollute people's blood clearly have no place in food packaging," EWG President Ken Cook said to BNA. "It's taken the FDA more than 10 years to figure that out, and it's banning only three chemicals that aren't even made any more."

The Natural Resources Defense Council has called for seven additional harmful chemicals and food additives to be banned.

The current ban is expected to go into place 30 days after the FDA makes things official with the Federal Register. In the interim, there are other uses for the stack of pizza boxes next to your trash can.

[h/t First We Feast]

Tagged

fda

perfluoroalkyl ethyl

pizza

pizza boxes

toxic

Nell Casey

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE food

North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.

Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.

By

Robert Sietsema

Published Oct 10, 2026

10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City

The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.

By

Robert Sietsema

Food

10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City

The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.

By

Robert Sietsema

Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.

By

Sonia Rao

5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's

By

Hannah Frishberg

Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian

By

Robert Sietsema

Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .