A group of pediatricians urge parents to avoid these chemicals

A major American medical organization representing more than 60,000 pediatricians recommends to parents and children to avoid certain chemicals used in food processing and asks the government to adjust its methods of presumption of security

. According to a report released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the regulatory framework for some chemicals is outdated and relies on an outdated understanding of science.

An accompanying technical report cites evidence of adverse effects on children's health in the treatment, such as flavors and dyes, and substances indirectly affecting food through packaging and manufacturing, such as adhesives and coatings.

The report presents "some surprising and surprising concerns about the lack of attention," said Dr. Leonardo Trasande, director of the Environmental Division "Pound for book, children eat more food and therefore have a higher exposure level compared to us adults, "said Trasande. "In addition, their developing organ systems are particularly vulnerable. […] There may be fundamental disruptions in various endocrine functions that may occur not only in young children, but potentially later in life." Prenatal or infant exposure. "

Trasande also cited several chemicals in aluminum can liners (Bisphenol A was banned from bottles and cups by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2012, but the FDA baderts its safety in food packaging); phthalates, used to make plastics soft; perchlorates, used in food packaging; and nitrates and nitrites, which are preservatives and color enhancers.

"The chemicals used in everyday products must be rigorously evaluated for their full potential impact on human health before they are widely available on the market". Galvez, an badociate professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told CNN previously.

Experts are concerned that these chemicals may have a range of side effects, including disruption of thyroid hormones, endocrine disruption that involves mimicking estrogen and blocking testosterone, the effects on brain development, the increased risk of obesity and decreased birth weight.

"It's not just calories, but calories". "It was a practical framework for thinking about obesity, but now we know that synthetic chemicals disrupt the way calories are processed and ultimately converted to protein over sugar and fat." 19659002 "Even at a basic level, we understand the thyroid hormone is not only important for brain development, but also for heart function, bone function and muscles," he added. all organs are affected by thyroid hormone function. "

The American Chemistry Council, which represents chemical companies, said in a statement that Americans" should know that all plastics intended for food contact " Consumers want to know that the products they buy – including packaged foods – will work as intended, offer the desired benefits and be safe for their family. Plastic packaging is essential to the protection of the quality and integrity of food and the safety of transport and storage of food. "

Trasande explains that there are three branches of action in this area.One is a broader social action in which the public is calling for a change, the second is what pediatricians can do, and the third is what regulators can adjust to ensure safety.

About 1,000 chemicals are considered safe FDA approval, the authors noted.The FDA states that any substance used voluntarily as a food additive is subject to its approval, "unless the substance is generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use."

The Academy urged the Government to revise its process "generally recognized as safe", making it more transparent and imposing additional toxicity testing before approving chemicals to uses r in food products.

"Families can take simple and safe measures to limit their exposure: reduce the consumption of canned foods, avoid plastic microwaves," said Trasande. "This is also another opportunity to highlight the need to consume fresh fruits and vegetables as opposed to other highly processed or packaged foods, not only because of the nutrients and their difference, but also because of of chemical contamination which is much greater … in fast food and other packaged foods. "

Other recommendations: avoid processed meats, especially during pregnancy packaging labeled with recycle codes 3 (phthalates), 6 (styrene, a suspected carcinogen) or 7 (bisphenols). An exception is if the plastics are labeled as "biobased" or "greenware", which means that they are corn-based and are not made with bisphenols, according to the report.

If possible, glbad and stainless steel can be used instead of plastic. The academy also suggests washing hands before handling food and drink, and washing fruits and vegetables that can not be peeled.