Over 80 big retailers and restaurants have come under fire after a “harmful chemical” was found on their receipts, according to the Center for Environmental Health.
In a release last month, the CEH announced it had found high levels of Bisphenol S (BPS) on receipt paper from dozens of businesses.
Recommended Videos
“BPS, like BPA, is a hormone-disrupting chemical that mimics estrogen and can disrupt the normal functioning of the body, including metabolism, growth and development, and reproduction," the release reads. “Studies show that BPS can be absorbed through skin when handling receipt paper — even for short periods."
Last year, BPS was added to the list of chemicals under Proposition 65 in California, meaning businesses in that state are required to warn customers if their products contain these chemicals.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
As a result, the CEH filed a notice of violation in California after finding stores in the state providing receipts containing BPS.
“Based on these studies and testing by an independent lab, the concentrations were so high that touching only one receipt with BPS for 10 seconds resulted in exposure above the safe harbor level, which requires a clear and reasonable warning to consumers,” explained Science Lead Mihir Vohra with CEH.
While the legal action originally involved around 30 companies, that number has since ballooned to 88 as of Friday.
Per the CEH, the full list of businesses is as follows:
- Ace Hardware
- Aesop
- Alliance Thermal Paper
- Amazon Fresh
- AMC
- Applebee’s
- Autozone
- Baskin Robbins
- Burger King
- Burlington
- Capital One
- Carl’s Jr
- Cardenas
- Champs
- Chanel
- Chili’s
- Church’s
- Cinnabon
- Claire’s
- Coldstone
- Converse
- Crumbl
- Daiso
- Del Taco
- Denny’s
- Dick’s Sporting Goods
- Dollar General
- Dollar Tree
- Domino’s
- Dunkin
- Dutch Bros
- Exxon
- Famous Footwear
- FedEx Office and Print
- Five Guys
- Foot Locker
- Forever 21
- GameStop
- GAP Outlet
- Grocery Outlet
- Habit Burger
- Harbor Freight
- Hot Dog on a Stick
- IHOP
- Jack in the Box
- JCPenney
- JPMorgan Chase
- KFC
- Kroger
- Lids
- Little Caesars
- Lowe’s
- McDonald’s
- MOD Pizza
- Nordstrom Rack
- Office Depot
- Olive Garden
- Peet’s Coffee & Tea
- Papa John’s
- Papa Murphy’s
- Petco
- Petsmart
- PF Chang’s
- Phillips 66
- Pizza Hut
- Pressed
- Raising Cane’s
- Red Lobster
- Red Robin
- Ross
- Saks Off 5th
- Shake Shack
- Shell
- Spencer’s
- Smart & Final
- Sonic
- Staples
- Subway
- Taco Bell
- The Cheesecake Factory
- Tractor Supply
- ULTA
- Victoria’s Secret
- Walmart
- Wells Fargo
- Wetzel’s Pretzels
- Williams Sonoma
- Yard House
In the meantime, the CEH suggests customers decline printed receipts when possible to avoid possible exposure.
“Store workers who must handle receipts should wear gloves if possible or avoid using alcohol-based hand cleaners before handling a receipt because it can significantly increase the absorption of BPS,” said Shakoora Azimi-Gaylon with the CEH. “Receipts are made from thermal paper, which shouldn’t be recycled because they contain bisphenols like BPA and BPS that can contaminate the recycling stream and pose health and environmental risks.”