Are Black Plastic Food Containers Safe: Recently an online debate has expressed concern about the safety of the use of plastic food delivery containers. This issue arises from the fact that they are made of ‘black plastic’. A material that is very common in everyday life, as many people understand. Black plastic is usually used to make everyday things such as food trays, containers and utensils.
It is often made from recycled materials including old electronics and is treated with chemical to increase fire resistance. However, foods such as DecBDE are not safely bound within plastic and can dissolve in food, especially when it is hot, oily or acidity. After a viral Instagram video, the discussion gained momentum, in which an influential person warned against using or re -using black plastic containers for food storage or microwving.
Watch viral video here:
You are advised to avoid using these containers. Specialist Dr. Kanchan Kaur, Medanta, Senior Director of Breast Cancer and Cancer Care at Gurugram answered some questions related to this issue.
Questions often asked about black plastic
1. What is black plastic and can these black plastic food packaging become really a cause of cancer?
Probably yes, although no direct study confirms one thing, these black boxes contain enough chemicals, which can cause major problems by dissolving in food. Many of these chemicals are considered to be indocrin disorder, which means they mimic your hormones and they can spoil your normal hormonal balance and even give rise to conditions like cancer. Not only cancer, but it can lead to problems like PCOD and thyroid, but with cancer, the link is slightly larger, especially carbon black which is used to make these boxes black. It is a carcinogen and these plastic have many other chemicals that potentially restructs your body’s normal functions and diseases, especially cancer.
2. How does cancer cause cancer?
Plastic chemical cells restrain functioning, some carcinogenes affect hormone regulation, especially in relation to breast cancer. Indocrin disorder spoils the body’s hormone balance, which can potentially cause cancer. Apart from this, black plastic can leave microplastic in food, which is now associated with many diseases from heart disease to cancer.
3. Do you recommend avoiding the use of black plastic food containers based on your expertise?
Yes, of course, it is advisable to reduce the use of plastic not only in black plastic food containers but also in domestic work, especially when hot or cool food is stored in the refrigerator or they are used in microwaves. Due to the change in temperature, these harmful chemicals can get out of food, which can cause cancer and other lifestyle related problems.
4. Are there any safe options for black plastic or food containers and packaging?
Using steel and glass utensils is a better option. People in India also have the option to choose pottery, by ensuring that the soil used is leadless and no paint or chemicals have been used in them. If safety is a priority, steel and glass are the best options.
5. Apart from cancer, what other health problems are related to eating this black plastic?
The chemicals present in these plastic are endocrine disorders. They disrupt the normal functioning of your endocrine system, which can cause serious health problems like PCOD, diabetes and thyroid. It can also cause prostate problems in men, especially prostate cancer. In addition, coming into contact with children may potentially reduce their IQ or obstruct their neurological growth.
6. How can one be safe from exposure to plastic and how can the risk of cancer be reduced?
Live life like your grandparents. You should eat local, seasonal, fresh food and reduce dependence on food outside. Avoid storing and heating food in plastic and select safe options like banana leaves, bamboo, earthen pots, steel and glass to store and serve food. India is at the forefront of banana leaves and bamboo utensils which are very safe and therefore can be used in place of plastic cans.
7. What is the risk of cancer with the use of black plastic food containers?
There is no study that can tell the number of cases of plastic use or years that can cause cancer, but the more you come in contact with plastic, the higher the risk.
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(Disclaimer: This material including advice only provides general information. It is not an alternative to qualified medical opinion in any way. Always consult an expert or your doctor for more information. Lokjanta does not claim responsibility for this information Does.)