A recent report by Greenpeace International highlights potential health risks linked to plastic packaging used for ready meals and takeaway foods. The report reviewed 24 peer-reviewed scientific studies examining the migration of chemicals and plastic particles from food packaging into food.
The analysis found that plastic containers commonly used for ready meals can release chemical additives as well as micro- and nanoplastics into food or food simulants. Importantly, the release of these substances appears to increase when food is heated directly in the packaging, even when the containers are labelled as microwave- or oven-safe.
Plastic materials are chemically complex and may contain thousands of intentionally added substances, along with additional non-intentionally added substances formed during manufacturing or degradation. Many of these chemicals remain poorly studied. Evidence cited in the report indicates that at least 1,396 food-contact plastic chemicals have been detected in human biological samples, including substances linked to cancers, infertility, neurodevelopmental disorders, and metabolic diseases.
The authors also highlight the rapid growth of the global ready-meal market and the increasing reliance on plastic packaging, which contributes to rising plastic production and waste. They argue that current regulatory approaches may not fully address the risks associated with chemical mixtures and emerging contaminants such as micro- and nanoplastics.
The report calls for applying the precautionary principle to food packaging materials and urges policymakers to reduce reliance on single-use plastics while negotiations continue for a global plastics treaty.
Greenpeace International (2026). Are we cooked? The hidden health risks of plastic-packaged ready meals. [online] Available at: https://www.greenpeace.org/malaysia/report/63881/are-we-cooked-the-hidden-health-risks-of-plastic-packaged-ready-meals/.
