Do you eat frozen dinners heated up in the microwave? And if so, how closely do you look at the packaging for those meals?
Recent concerns about BPA, an endocrine disruptor linked to everything from breast cancer to sexual dysfunction, have convinced many people to stop using plastic water bottles that aren’t marked BPA-free. But if you’re heating up plastic-encased food in your microwave, your could be using containers that contain and leach BPA, as well as phthalates, a plasticizer linked to genital deformities and other health problems.
These plastic concerns apply not just to items like disposable yogurt cups that were never intended for the microwave, but also to plastic containers specifically marketed as “microwave safe.” That’s what Good Housekeeping found back in Nov. 2008 when it tested 31 plastic items people are likely to use to heat up foods. While the majority of the items showed no traces of BPA or phthalates, three items were found to contain BPA: Rubbermaid EasyFind Lids container, Rubbermaid Premier container, and Glad Press’n Seal Multipurpose Sealing Wrap. And one item — Glad Press’n Seal wrap — showed to contain low levels of both phthalates and BPA.
The disturbing part of this experiment is that these questionable items are expressly marketed as BPA-free products by Rubbermaid and Glad. Rubbermaid, for example, includes its EasyFind Lids on a list of BPA-free items — and contends its own experiments found no traces of BPA. Glad Press’n Seal wrap’s FAQ also brags that their item contains no BPA — and includes a link to an official-looking letter from Clorox (PDF) reiterating this statement.
In Good Housekeeping’s tests, the BPA or phthalates in the containers weren’t found to leach into foods. However, a similar test of 10 items — including a Rubbermaid multipurpose container — done by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal did find that BPA leached from “microwave-safe” plastics ranging from frozen food trays to plastic baby food packaging. Here are the charts and graphs (PDF) detailing which products contained how much BPA.
That’s why many people are worried about putting plastics in the microwave. Last month, New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof asked doctors at a symposium what they do in their own homes to reduce risks of diseases linked to environmental pollution, like cancer:
They said that they avoid microwaving food in plastic or putting plastics in the dishwasher, because heat may cause chemicals to leach out. And the symposium handed out a reminder card listing “safer plastics” as those marked (usually at the bottom of a container) 1, 2, 4 or 5.
Even those “safer plastics” may not be safe in the microwave, however, according to the Journal Sentinel’s testing, which found BPA leaching in plastics marked 1, 2 and 5. Considering these uncertainties, it’s easy to see why some may choose the precautionary principle, keeping all types of plastics out of the microwave. Florence Williams, the author of the Good Housekeeping feature piece, says that her research has changed her habits in the kitchen:
Since learning more about the health effects of plastics, including how much we don’t know, I’ve changed some habits…. I now store leftovers in ceramic or glass containers in the fridge, and I don’t put anything plastic in the microwave because there’s still a lot to learn about the interactions of heat and plastic — and it’s easy to find an alternative….
I’d be happy to stop doing all this, but until the government starts testing household plastics in ways that will tell us what’s safe and what’s not, I will go on being a little obsessed.
With more environmentalists opting against plastics in the microwave, some organic frozen food companies have opted for less-plasticky packaging. Organic and natural frozen food company Amy’s Kitchen, for example, says it shuns plasticizers and uses paper containers for its products, though these containers are still PET-lined and usually have a top film made of polypropylene. “These measures have been taken to ensure that all of our packaging material is safe for use,” according to the FAQ on Amy’s Kitchen’s website. “However, if you would prefer not to cook in plastic, our products can be easily removed from the original container and cooked in glass.”
Of course, an easy way to avoid plastic or plastic-lined containers for frozen meals is to avoid frozen meals altogether. Yet although many green LA girl readers like to make their meals from fresh farmers’ market ingredients, the big aisles of overpackaged meals and frozen dinners at supermarkets — and even Whole Foods and many local co-ops — makes clear that microwavable convenience foods are still quite popular.
What decisions have you made to limit plastic-related health risks in your kitchen? Does the microwave meet plastics in your home?
Photo by rutlo
I don’t know anyone who is comfortable using any type of plastic in a microwave. Glass or go home.
I am curious if eating a microwavable meal is actually worse than the amount of plastic seeping into the food.
Comment by Brandon Lee — February 8, 2010 @ 5:23 pm
I eat very few microwaveable meals, except for reheating leftovers. Those I often store in plastic, but heat in glass/Corningware, etc.
Comment by How Green Is My Valley — February 8, 2010 @ 6:44 pm
This is not good.
Comment by Jeffry S. P. — February 8, 2010 @ 7:28 pm
Don’t want plastic? Fine. Try glass. Then you get lead leaching.
Comment by Sally — February 9, 2010 @ 4:43 am
I definitely don’t microwave leftovers in plastic (though I do still use plastic for storage). I put my leftovers into the appropriate plate/bowl that I’ll be eating them from. I do occasionally eat freezer meals, but I haven’t had one for months. The plastic in freezer meals is one of my main concerns with eating them.
We have little plastic ikea bowls (because they’re the right size for appropriate servings of ice cream), and my boyfriend sometimes microwaves in those. I wonder if they’re safe. They’re the brightly colored kids’ bowls.
Also, we don’t put plastic in the dishwasher, but it’s convenient that we don’t even have a dishwasher.
Comment by Leah — February 9, 2010 @ 5:26 am
Well that is awful. I am glad I know about this now. I guess better sooner than later.
Comment by Camion Canasta — February 9, 2010 @ 8:42 am
I don’t microwave plastic. I don’t use much plastic storage just because I don’t own much. I have a set of glass bowls with plastic lids that I remove before microwaving.
The one thing that I buy frozen is Sunshine burgers that I eat for lunch. I take them out and heat them on non-plastic materials. I don’t know if the plastic could be leaching anything when it is cold.
I have been trying to get my mother to stop reheating in plastic and stop putting it through the dishwasher, but she says it is just so much more convenient. *sigh*
Comment by Erica — February 9, 2010 @ 11:18 am
People shouldn’t be eating ANYTHING that has been microwaved, whether it’s in plastic or not. There have been numerous studies done on the effects microwaved food has on the body and all of them show that the consumption of microwaved food causes significant changes in our blood. These changes include: Decrease of all hemoglobin values, increase of the hematocrit, leukocytes and cholesterol values. Basically, what that means is that the consumption of microwaved food caused changes in the blood of the test persons, indicative of an early pathogenic process, similar to the actual start of CANCER. Please, for your health and the health of your loved ones, especially your children, DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO AVOID EATING ANYTHING THAT HAS BEEN MICROWAVED.
Comment by Kate — February 9, 2010 @ 5:56 pm
Kate, do you have any sources for these claims?
Comment by Erica — February 9, 2010 @ 6:12 pm
Hi Erica,
The study I am most familiar with was done in 1993 by Dr. Bernard Blanc from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and University and Dr. Hans Hertel, Environmental Biological Research and Consultation. The link below will give you specific findings from other studies done (including the one I mentioned above) Hope that helps.
http://www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards.htm
Comment by Kate — February 9, 2010 @ 6:32 pm
About the safety of microwaves: Kate — You’ll be happy to know that you’re not the only green LA girl reader preaching the evils of microwaves. One Zach called microwaves “fraudulaent, new-wave environmenalism” — a strange descriptor, but one that lead to a relatively productive back and forth about microwaves and cell phones and whether or not we should be using them.
In short, I’m with Grist’s Umbra, who provides a more balanced view considering the wide variety of research that’s out there. She does lay out some precautionary microwave usage tips for maximum safety but still praises the device for its energy efficiency. The microwave isn’t my favorite cooking device — my main issue with it is that it tends to make it too easy for people to eat crappy convenience foods — but used well, can still be a good kitchen tool, IMHO.
Comment by Siel — February 10, 2010 @ 4:19 pm
i am confused! :(
Comment by paul sandip — February 15, 2010 @ 3:04 am
Ha :) Life’s complexities….
Comment by Siel — February 16, 2010 @ 5:11 pm
I have always told friends and family not to microwave half the stuff they use in the microwave. I see people putting everything from sytrofoam, plastic, rubbermaid containers and even decorative plates. No telling what is going into our bodies!
Comment by Kris — February 7, 2011 @ 10:44 pm
I feel your pain — I keep reminding my mom not to put things like clingfilm into the microwave, but she often forgets. I actually no longer have a microwave — and I don’t waste my money on disposable clingfilm. Plastic problems solved! :P
Comment by Siel — February 8, 2011 @ 5:06 pm
I work across the state from where I live. Four to five of my lunches are Amy’s or Morning Star farms frozen delights.
I have just recieved a scary result from my woman yearly showing early stages if cancerous cells.
Could this be the reason?
Mikelle
Comment by Mikelle Ives — March 8, 2011 @ 6:37 am
@paul sandip
same here :)
Comment by james — April 7, 2011 @ 3:51 pm
I like to microwave clingwrap in a plastic bowl until it’s soft and then eat it with a fork.
Comment by Mr. Chompy — October 26, 2011 @ 12:39 pm