A new study carried out by the Food Packaging Forum has found that certain carcinogenic chemicals are used in food packaging.
Scientists say that around 175 toxic chemicals are legally employed in the production of certain forms of packaging, which may result in cancer, damaged fertility, genital malformations, and disrupted hormone production.
Doctor Jane Muncke, managing director of the Food Packaging Forum, which conducted the study, said: "From a consumer perspective, it is certainly undesirable and also unexpected to find chemicals of concern being intentionally used in food contact materials."
Phthalates, which are widely used as plasticisers, are one example of substances which can cause male infertility, and cancer.
Benzophenones and organotin compounds, found in printing inks and the coatings of food wrappings, were also found.
Researchers found some foil, cans, pans, and storage-containers release substances into food at low levels, to be ingested be people on a daily basis.
The report states: "Food contact materials (FCMs) are one possible source of food contamination because chemicals may migrate from the material into the food.
"More than 6,000 FCM substances appear on regulatory or non-regulatory lists, some of these substances have been linked to chronic diseases."
The UK Food Standards Agency has already quelled fears somewhat by reassuring consumers that the chemicals found are used only in amounts within European Union limits.
