Island Grill pushing green, clean packaging
Island Grill is protecting its consumers from forever chemicals’ with Per-and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) free food packaging.
‘Forever chemicals’, are toxic, non-degradable chemicals that have been used in consumer products since the 1940s. The term points to the core threat that these chemicals persist in our environment and bodies without breaking down, leading to significant harm over time. Jamaica is by no means insulated from this threat, and some food establishments like Island Grill says it is determined to protect customers.
“Island Grill has been working to combat this problem in the public’s interest since 2019. All of our InnoPak packaging is free from forever chemicals, and with global concerns rising about these chemicals, we are continuing our efforts to ensure that the safety of our customers is our number-one priority. This goes hand-in-hand with our efforts to provide a pro-health food menu that is firmly based on quality ingredients, honestly and responsibly prepared, without excessive additives or preservatives,” said Tania Waldron-Gooden, Island Grill’s newly appointed CEO.
Formally known as PFAS, the harmful chemicals can be found almost everywhere - from clothing to cosmetics to water and food packaging - and expose humans to serious health conditions.
Island Grill sources packaging from InnoPak, which not only offers products free of PFAS, but of Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS), which can cause birth defects or other reproductive harm, and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), which can affect growth and development, reproduction, and injure the liver.
“In today’s world, there are so many harmful chemicals found in food packaging, and many of those chemicals are ending up in the human body. If we don’t know what these chemicals are, then we don’t know their dangers. So Island Grill has been following this for over four years,” Waldron-Gooden said.
There isn’t much data specific to Jamaica on PFAS, but the Government has imposed a ban on single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam containers.