Look around you. How many items do you see made of plastic? Unfortunately, plastic is here to stay. It’s not going to biodegrade anytime soon & isn’t indefinitely recyclable. It also releases toxic chemicals into our food and drinks. It’s a true nightmare for your health and the environment. You should do your best to avoid putting your food in plastic & I’m about to tell you why.
With Plastic Free July here, I want to share with you why you should not be putting your food or drinks in plastic! Here are some common plastic culprits and why you should avoid them.
Eating Out
This is a problem because, in the US, convenience is becoming the name of the game. If people can’t pop in and grab their food, companies are seeing a decrease in sales. 2/3 of the US population reports eating out once a day. Eating out can be defined as eating at a restaurant, fast food outlet, or cafeteria. We’ve all seen that more often than not, these sort of foods are cooked and/or served in plastic or plastic coated containers.
A George Washington University study found that people who reported eating out the most had a 35% increase in phthalate levels in their bodies than those who reported eating food mostly from the grocery store. When the participants were asked to recall what they ate the previously day, 61% reported eating out within 24 hours.
Phthalate acts as a hormone disruptor, which can lead to infertility issues, pregnancy complications, cause early menopause, & cause organ damage, among other things. Pregnant women, children, & teens are more prone to experiencing side effects so it’s important to decrease their exposure to them.
Although they’re used in the US and listed as a possible concern by the FDA, they haven’t made the steps forward like the EU who has limited their use in food packaging material.
Food Packaging Matters
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has induced cancer in lab animals, has been seen to effect hormones, damages our kidneys & liver, & harms immune system function. It has been found in breastmilk, blood, and umbilical cord blood along with drinking water in the US.
PFAS can be found in food packaging, like those fast food wrappers or microwave popcorn, water repellants in clothing, stain resistant carpets, and firefighting foams. It contaminates our food by building up in livestock or water & being transferred from the packaging. Last year, 2018, the Federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry suggested safety levels were 6x lower than those the Environmental Protection Agency is currently reporting as ‘safe’.
Never Heat Food or Drink in Plastic
Putting hot coffee into a paper cup lined in plastic is probably not as safe as we think. Considering the American Academy of Pediatrics came out saying plastic should never be heated & that of the current list of approved food and food packaging additives, 64% don’t have evidence to support that they’re safe, why risk it?
There are also many ‘microwave safe’ food packages being used today, but the effects will only come out in time. Food additives are not only messing with hormones, but weight. Considering the obesity crisis plaguing the US, this should make everyone perk up. Obesity rates have tripled since the 1970s.
Frozen foods such as steam vegetables or frozen TV dinners that are cooked in plastic in our microwaves should be avoided at all costs. This can leak BPA and phthalates into food. It is even suggested to not put any plastics in the dishwasher as they continue to leak these toxic chemicals.
Know Your Numbers
I’m an advocate for avoiding all plastics, but if you must use them, especially avoid the numbers 3, 6, & 7. Plastic #3 is typically found in take out containers. These tend to have phthalates to make their plastic more pliable. Plastic #6 is also found in take out containers and can release styrene when heated. The short term problems with styrene include skin, eye, and upper respiratory irritation. Long term problems can include depression, headache, fatigue, weakness, & kidney effects. Plastic #7 is found mostly in water bottles. It is most likely to contain BPA, which has been linked to endocrine disruption, cardiovascular problems, & autoimmune disorders.
Companies that promote their non-BPA plastics also pose a health problem: we aren’t really sure if they’re any safer or, if like BPA, it’ll come out as bad for our health and environment also.
Thanks again for stopping by!
I hope you found this informative and helpful in your plastic free journey & you will now avoid putting your food in plastic!
What did you do today or do you do everyday to avoid plastics?
Have a beautiful day friend. Tschüss!
xo
Meghan
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