Plastic can be said to be ubiquitous in life, and in addition to environmental issues, the most worrying thing is food safety:
In the morning, I bought a bun and fried dough sticks, and packed them in plastic bags when they were hot from the oven; when they were packed and ordered, all kinds of food were directly packed into plastic boxes; even some convenience stores directly packed the bento in plastic boxes. Put it in the microwave to heat up…
At this time, some people couldn’t help but wonder: whether heating plastic products or filling them with hot food will release toxic substances and even cause cancer? Let’s explore the truth together~
1. Not all packing bags and packing boxes can hold food
Food grade plastic bags that meet the national standard can hold hot food
Common plastic bags on the market are generally made of polyethylene (PE), but only food-grade plastic bags that meet the national standard can hold hot food.
However, even food-grade plastic bags must not be heated in a microwave oven or steamed in a pot. When heated, the temperature is very high, exceeding the melting point of the plastic bag, the plastic will be deformed, melted, and even stick to the food.
Moreover, experts remind that although food-grade plastic bags are non-toxic, the printing ink on the surface of the plastic bags is not completely non-toxic. If the temperature is too high, there may be a certain food safety risk.
[Guidelines for the safe use of plastic bags]
① Use plastic bags printed with special words such as “food grade” or cutlery logos to store food;
②Before bagging, the food temperature should not exceed 100℃;
③Do not retort plastic bags or packaging bags for a long time;
④ Heating oil-rich foods without wrapping in plastic bags.
2. Only the products with “pp5″ at the bottom are qualified products
In the program of the great doctor, there was an experiment in which hot oil of about 150°C was put into lunch boxes of different plastic products. It was found that some lunch boxes did not change significantly, some were deformed, and some were deformed. The bottom of the box even melted directly!
Experts remind: There are three standards for plastic lunch boxes, 1, 5, and 6. Relatively speaking, 1, 6 is not resistant to high temperatures, and 5 can withstand high temperatures of about 200 ℃, and can be heated in a microwave oven.
Therefore, when using plastic lunch boxes, pay attention to choosing qualified products marked “PP5″ at the bottom.
It should also be noted that some packaging boxes, even if the box body is “5”, but the lid may not be, so the lid should be removed when heating. Especially if the microwave oven is heated too tightly, it may burst.
Since there are so many points to pay attention to in packing bags and packing boxes, what about beverage bottles, the drinks are poured into them, but they have to be stored for a long time. Some people even like to reuse them. Will there be certain health threats?
3. Can the beverage bottle be kept for reuse?
Nowadays, many beverage bottles are good-looking and sturdy. It is a pity to throw them away. Many people will wash them after drinking, and then leave them to fill with water or some beans, whole grains, or even pickles. But are these methods suitable?
In fact, the judgment method is very simple. Look upside down~ When the plastic bottle is upside down, there will be triangles and numbers at the bottom.
Mark “1” at the bottom, throw it away after drinking
Plastic bottles containing mineral water, juice, and carbonated beverages usually have “1” written on the bottom.
No. 1 plastic, also known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This material has poor heat resistance, the maximum use temperature does not exceed 70 ℃, it is easy to deform when heated or filled with boiling water, and it will also dissolve harmful substances.
Some studies have also found that after 10 months of use, “1” plastic products will release carcinogen DEHP, and the more repeated use, the higher the probability of releasing carcinogens and the more bacteria that will breed.
Therefore, this kind of plastic bottle not only can’t hold hot water, but also don’t reuse it. It’s best to throw it away after drinking it.
Plastic bottle pickles are more convenient? Generally not recommended
Generally speaking, plastic bottles and metal utensils have poor acid resistance. It is recommended to use special glass and ceramic products to pickle them.
If pickling vegetables in plastic bottles, choose PET products as much as possible and keep them away from high temperatures. In addition, avoid plastic barrels made of polyethylene, which can react with ingredients such as sodium chloride in pickles and produce harmful substances.
The water cup is also plastic, why can it be used? The key point is…
Speaking of this, many people will wonder again, many of the daily drinking cups are made of plastic, can they not be used anymore?
The bottom of some plastic cups is marked with “5”. As we said above, this material has strong heat resistance and can be filled with hot water; some plastic cups have a bottom with “7”, which is not suitable for hot water.
Like some space cups, the bottom of the cup is usually “7”, which is polycarbonate (PC). This material is very transparent and hard, has a smooth hand feel, is strong and resistant to falling, but is not suitable for holding water that is too hot.
This material may release bisphenol A at high temperatures, and bisphenol A is an endocrine disruptor that can cause endocrine disorders, and the higher the temperature, the more release.
The paper lunch box is slippery to the touch
Was it waxed?
Now paper packaging boxes are also very popular, such as pizza, burgers and other foods are used. So what is the slippery layer on it? Can it be heated in a microwave oven?
This slippery layer is a layer of plastic film called “polyethylene coating”. During casting, a thin polyethylene plastic coating is plated on the paper surface, which is equivalent to a plastic film covering the paper surface.
In this way, the paper lunch box can not only withstand the high temperature of about 90 ℃, but also can well isolate the water, pack food, and deal with cold and hot drinks, all without any problem.
However, under the high temperature of the microwave oven, the plastic film may decompose toxic substances, so try not to use wrapping paper to heat food.
Paper straws are soft and loose
Can it still be used?
It is not difficult to find that almost all milk tea shops and coffee shops have replaced paper straws. However, the paper straws that are “first out of the world” are frequently complained:
Every time you poke the lid of the cup, you have to use a lot of effort; I finally poke the paper straw in. The straw is soft before drinking a few sips of the milk tea. Is it really safe to drink a mouthful of paper?
The main risk of paper straws lies in the fact that during use, there may be harmful substances such as glue and additives in the paper straws that decompose into the beverage, especially at high temperatures.
However, under normal circumstances, paper straws that meet the national food safety standards are relatively safe and can be used with confidence.
If the source of the paper straw is not clear, it is best to do the following:
① Shorten the contact time between the paper straw and the drink as much as possible, and try to drink it within 1 hour;
②The straws currently on the market can generally withstand a temperature of 45°C, so do not insert the straws into overheated drinks;
③In the use process, avoid bad habits, such as biting the straw, so as not to produce debris or debris to contaminate the food.