July 27, 2023, 2:51 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Sipped through a straw: Does lemonade taste better to you this way? If you opt for paper, however, you might also be ingesting harmful substances along with your drink.
Plastic straws? A thing of the past. Paper straws are the new normal among single-use straws–but the likelihood of them containing harmful substances is high. The Consumer Center of North Rhine-Westphalia points to several studies that have reached this conclusion.
Why Do Paper Straws Contain Harmful Substances?
Background: To prevent the paper from softening or disintegrating when in contact with a drink, many straws are mixed with resins. According to the Consumer Center, these resins are often contaminated with two types of so-called chloropropanols. These substances are considered carcinogenic.
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Studies on Harmful Substances in Straws
In warning about harmful substances in paper straws, the Consumer Center NRW refers to an American study from 2021.1 This study examined 38 “biodegradable” straws available on Amazon (29 made of paper, 9 plant-based) for the presence of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances). Thirty-six of the straws released medium-volatile fluorochemicals, which are not typically used for paper impregnation and may not have been intentionally added.
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Similar studies in Switzerland and Stuttgart tested paper straws from supermarkets and the food service industry.2,3 The results showed that a large portion of the tested straws altered the taste of the drink. Some of them released carcinogenic chloropropanols in amounts exceeding the recommendations of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.
A European study by several consumer associations also confirmed that some paper straws contained carcinogenic chloropropanols in concerning amounts.4
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Alternatives to Paper Straws
If you want to be on the safe side, skip the straw when ordering at a café or restaurant. For home use, reusable straws made of glass or stainless steel are an alternative–not only for health but also for the environment. According to the Consumer Center, single-use products are never resource-efficient, not even paper versions.
Sources
- 1. Timshina, A., Aristizabal-Henao, J.J., Da Silva, B.F., Bowden, J.A. (2021). The last straw: Characterization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in commercially-available plant-based drinking straws. Chemosphere.
- 2. Gesundheitsdepartement Kanton St. Gallen. Trinkhalme aus Papier. (accessed on 07/26/2023)
- 3. Untersuchungsämter für Lebensmittelüberwachung und Tiergesundheit Baden-Württemberg. Papiertrinkhalme – Die unbedenkliche Alternative zu Kunststoff? (accessed on 07/26/2023)
- 4. BEUC. Towards safe and sustainable packaging. (accessed on 07/26/2023)
With material from dpa