Credits: Social Media
Doctor warns you should never microwave food in a plastic container
A doctor has warned against using plastic containers when microwaving food and theres a very good reason why.
While it may be incredibly convenient to pop your leftovers in the microwave to make an easy meal, gastroenterologist Dr Saurabh Sethi – a specialist in disorders and diseases that affect the digestive system – has urged his followers on social media to consider what kind of container they use when zapping food.
Doctor warns against microwaving food in plastic containers
A graduate of both Harvard and Stanford, Dr Saurabh Sethi posts health-related hints and tips on his Instagram and TikTok accounts where he has 592,000 and 340,000 followers respectively.
In a recent video that earned more than 1.1 million views on Instagram, the doctor discussed the facts about using a microwave to heat up food.
Dr Sethi explained: Studies suggest that microwaving retains the nutrients [in food] well, often better than methods like frying.
However, the doctor then warned viewers about the type of containers they should use when microwaving food.
Never microwave a plastic container, use glass instead, he said. Many plastics contain hormone-disrupting compounds like BPA [Bisphenol A] which can contaminate your food when heated.
The science behind the warning
While Dr Sethi briefly touches upon the reasons why you should avoid using plastic containers in the microwave, there has been extensive scientific research carried out on the issue due to very real health concerns.
This is because certain plastic products contain materials that can be harmful when subjected to heat, particularly when in the microwave, as chemicals in the plastic can leach into the food during heating.
The two most prominent are bisphenol A (BPA) which is used to make plastic harder and a group of materials called phthalates which make plastic stronger and more flexible.
According to San Diego-based healthcare agency Sharp, BPA and some phthalates are considered endocrine disruptors that can block natural hormones in the body.
Dr Neelima Chu, an endocrinologist with Sharp, explained: These substances can lead to infertility, thyroid disease, early puberty, leukemia; breast, uterine and prostate cancers, neurobehavioral issues, obesity, and metabolic dysfunction.
BPA is not as common in food storage products as it used to be, but even BPA-free containers can still release potentially harmful phthalates when exposed to heat.
It should also be noted that certain types of plastic are better for storing food than others. On the bottom of plastic products, you should see a recycling symbol alongside a number between 1 and 7 which indicates the type of plastic that product is made from.
According to Sharp, safer options are 2, 4 and 5, while you should avoid keeping food in containers marked 1, 3, 6 or 7.
What to do instead
In order to help people reheat their food safely, Sharp has a list of several rules you should follow.
- Choose phthalate-free and BPA-free products.
- In the microwave, heat food in glass or microwave-safe porcelain.
- Use paper towels, not plastic to cover food. Condensation from plastic lids could contain phthalates.
- Avoid storing food in disposable plastics. Use glass, stainless steel, ceramic or wood to hold and store foods.
- Throw away old plastic, as there is more leaching if it is older or cracked.
- Avoid reusing plastic water bottles or takeout containers.
- Do not keep water bottles near heat or in the hot sun.
- Avoid placing hot liquids or foods in plastics.
- Avoid freezing plastic containers, then thawing them in microwaves.
- Read recycling symbols on plastic containers, and steer clear of those marked 1, 3, 6 or 7.
While many of us will have fallen victim to microwaving leftovers in plastic containers, Dr Chu reassures that Its never too late to make healthy changes, and decrease the amount of exposure.
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