Attention All Chipotle and Sweetgreen Devotees: Steer Clear of Cancer-Linked Bowls

Who knew a simple bowl could potentially give you cancer? Yup, you read that right––Chipotle’s and Sweetgreen’s bowls are infused with cancer-causing chemicals, according to the New York Post .

Although many condemned the burrito bowl chain and the salad store for their ‘eco-friendly’ compostable bowls, The Food Economy tested the bowls and revealed them to contain “forever chemicals.” In other words, the bowls have “high levels of fluorine, which indicates per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAs) were likely used to make them more durable,” the article said.

Exposure to these chemicals could potentially link to health problems such as kidney and testicular cancers, thyroid disorders, decreased sperm quality and pregnancy-induced hypertension—all for free! (But the guac is extra). While Chipotle claims in a statement that it’s “committed to using safe and sustainable food packaging and only partner with suppliers who make fluorochemical sciences and food safety a top priority,” according to The Food Economy, scientific researchers prove otherwise in reports .

These staple bowls have become sort of a status symbol in the restaurant world of takeout, so what does this mean for the future of Chipotle’s and Sweetgreen’s bowls? Plastic? Paper? Glass? In the meantime, beware of restaurants using fiber bowls...or enjoy a #saddesklunch like the rest of us.