Bumble Bee brand is recalling 3.75-ounce cans of its smoked clams after tests by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed harmful levels of a class of chemicals known as PFAS*. According to the FDA, the levels of a type of PFAS called PFOA are high enough to pose a health risk to adults who consume about 10 ounces of these clams per month and children who eat 2 ounces per month. There have been no reports of illnesses related this product. Of the 20 types of PFAS the FDA tested for, each clam sample had, on average, 11 different types of PFAS.
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Bumble Bee said in its recall announcement that only one specific lot of the product is affected: 3.75-ounce cans of Bumble Bee Smoked Clams with the UPC code 8660075234 on the label, which came from a third-party manufacturer in China. The product was shipped to stores throughout the U.S. The FDA advises that if you or your children regularly eat canned clams from China (the country of origin should be noted on the label), you may want to reduce your intake until there is more information.
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*PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are chemicals commonly used in food packaging and other consumer products (like cosmetics and clothing) to make them resistant to heat, water, oil, and corrosion. PFAS chemicals are toxic to humans and animals and are widespread in the environment. Scientists have found the PFAS chemicals do not break down in the environment or human or animal bodies–hence the nickname “forever chemicals”. The FDA said in its test report that it is likely that the PFAS chemicals in the clams came from the environment. Previous research has also found high PFAS levels in some clams from Europe and China. (source)
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Learn more about the harmful effects of PFAS Forever Chemicals
Scientific research has linked PFAS chemicals to thyroid disease, diabetes, weight gain, higher cholesterol levels, kidney and testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, liver damage, kidney disease, hypertension in middle-age women and pregnancy-induced hypertension, to name a few. To learn more about the scientific research findings linking PFAS chemicals to adverse health outcomes–as well as where PFAS chemicals are hiding, go to our Blog page, scroll down to the bottom and put “PFAS” into the search box. Or you can contact us and we will send you links from our scientific research database on PFAS chemicals and health effects.
Eric
Chemical Free Life 