The Dangers of Plastics and Food
Most of us are aware of the importance of eating healthy. For my part, I try to eat a balanced diet, avoid fats and preservatives, and buy organic whenever possible. However, until recently I gave very little thought to the packaging that my food was coming into contact with. As I’ve done more research, I realized that a lot of the “food-safe” containers that we have in our house and use on a daily basis can actually be very harmful to our health.
Think about it: most food sold these days comes in plastic packaging. When we cook the food, we put the leftovers into plastic plastic storage containers, which we later use to reheat them. We use plastic to wrap sandwiches that we bring to work and school for lunch. We drink water out of plastic water bottles and feed our babies from plastic bottles, bowls, and cups.
While it is hard to dispute the convenience of all these plastic products, but the fact is, many of them contain potentially dangerous chemicals that can leach into food. While little comprehensive research has been done on the long-term effects of plastics on our health, some of these chemicals have been linked to cancers and other types of health problems. (For more information on the plastics and food, see this edition of The Green Guide.)
If your personal health concerns are not sufficient motivation to stop using plastics, also consider the impact of plastics on the environment:
- Plastics are made out of petroleum, which is a non-renewable resource.
- Manufacturing of plastics releases harmful chemicals into the environment.
- Not all plastic products are recyclable, which contributes to pollution and landfills.
The good news is, it is relatively easy to eliminate, or at least significantly reduce, the use of plastics in the kitchen. Here are some of the things that I have done to limit the exposure of the foods we eat to plastics:
- I stopped using plastic containers to reheat leftovers. Instead, I invested in a few microwave-safe glass and ceramic containers. While these containers may be a bit more expensive, they are also more durable, and because most are also freezer- and oven-safe, they are more versatile.
- I didn’t want to throw out the old plastic containers, so now I use them to store non-food items.
- I buy a lot of food in bulk, which uses much less packaging than individual-size portions.
- I bring my own cloth bags to do grocery shopping.
- Whenever possible, I buy products that come in recyclable containers (such as paper, glass, or metal).
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