McDonald’s, Chipotle, and Subway all receive ‘failing grades’ in scathing new report and experts call results ‘shocking’

MAJOR retailers including McDonald’s, Chipotle, and Subway have been slammed in a report about protecting customers from toxic chemicals.

A report from Toxic-Free Future which has assessed the majority of big retailers in the US and Canada has ruled that 17 of them are failing customers.

The assessment looks into how closely big companies are following their commitment to protecting customers from toxic chemicals and plastics in the products and packaging they sell.

In the report’s Toxic Hall of Shame are 17 popular brands including McDonald’s, Sally Beauty, LL FLooring, Chipotle, and Subway which all received an F grade.

Such low-ranking businesses which included many well-known dollar store chains “earned failing grades for their lack of action in addressing the use of toxic chemicals and harmful plastics,” Toxic-Free Future said.

“With PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) in our drinking water and toxins found in black plastic spatulas, it is shocking how little retailers are doing to help solve this health crisis linked to hazardous chemicals and plastics in consumer products,” said Cheri Peele, co-author of the 2024 Retailer Report Card and senior project manager for Toxic-Free Future.

“Retailers must require ingredient transparency, ban the most hazardous chemicals and plastics in products and packaging, and invest in safer solutions.”

PFAs are synthetic chemicals that are most commonly used in consumer and industrial products.

The report claimed that 80% of retailers failed to introduce new regulations that would ensure safer alternatives were used.

It found that over half (54%) of the retailers included in the assessment do not require suppliers to detail the chemical ingredients in their products, meaning that they cannot know what safety issues are present.

Toxic chemicals and plastics have been found to carry health risks as well as environmental risks.

According to Toxic-Free Future, such chemicals can cause cancer, disrupt hormones, and even harm the development of a baby before birth.

Meanwhile, in the world around us, they can pollute the air, water, and soil which ends up in the food we eat.

Lora Shahine, MD, reproductive endocrinologist highlighted her concerns about the findings of the latest report from Toxic-Free Future.

“As a fertility doctor, I am deeply concerned about exposure to toxic chemicals and plastics in everyday products, especially for women,” she said in the press release.

“Research has shown that many of these substances can disrupt hormones, impact fertility, and even increase the risk of pregnancy complications.

“Retailers must take immediate action to reduce the presence of harmful chemicals such as PFAS and toxic plastics in the products we use so that women and their families can make safer choices for their health and well-being.”

The retailers that came out on top with A- grades or higher were Walmart, Target, Apple, and Sephora.

These chains have policies in place to ban the most toxic chemicals and plastics from their shelves while also investing in better alternatives.

“Apple, Sephora, Target, and Walmart are setting a strong standard, scoring highest overall,” Mike Schade, co-author of the 2024 Retailer Report Card and director of Toxic-Free Future’s Mind the Store program said.

“With the holiday shopping season upon us, it’s time for more retailers to follow their lead and mind the store.”

Ulta Beauty got a special commendation in the report for the most improved retailer with a grade of B-.

The beauty chain almost doubled its score in 2021 and one of the key changes it brought in since then was joining Sephora in ChemFORWARD’S Know Better, Do Better Collaborative.

This is a group where health and beauty businesses cooperate to look at ingredients and find safer alternatives.

To improve their scores, retailers are advised to take on the Four Essential Elements for a Safer Marketplace:

• Adopt comprehensive safer chemical policies
• Require full transparency from suppliers
• Restrict toxic chemicals and plastics such as PFAS and PVC in products and packaging
• Implement safer solutions to chemicals and plastics of high concern

The U.S. Sun has reached out to McDonald’s, Subway, and Chipotle for comment.