By now it seems common knowledge that plastic and food, especially when exposed to high temperatures, are not good company. When heating food in the microwave in plastic containers, substances that have health effects can be released, and it is better to always use glass containers instead. However, in many kitchens an exception is made that can be dangerous.
These are kitchen utensils made of black plastic: spatulas, skimmers, ladles and tongs that are generally made of nylon. This plastic melts at 220ºC, so the utensils are resistant when, for example, they are used to stir boiling broth, which does not exceed 100ºC. They are also used because they do not damage non-stick pans, unlike metal utensils.
However, on more than one occasion we have witnessed how these utensils can melt when, for example, they are left forgotten in a hot pan. This molten plastic should not come into contact with food, but recent studies indicate that some nylon utensils may present other potential serious problems.
The problem of fireproof materials
Flame retardants are chemicals added to plastics, textiles and foams in order to reduce their flammability and delay the spread of fire. In the case of plastics, these retardants are incorporated during the manufacturing of the material, either through additives that are mixed directly with the polymer or through chemical processes that integrate them structurally. Its function is to inhibit or slow down the combustion process by intervening in the chemical reactions that allow the flames to spread.
There are different mechanisms by which these retardants act on plastics. Some substances release gases that cool the surface of the plastic as they burn, reducing combustion. Other compounds create a char layer that insulates the material from oxygen and heat, slowing ignition. There are also retardants that act by diluting the oxygen around the burning material, thus preventing the fire from spreading quickly.
The first flame retardants, polychlorinated biphenyls, were banned in the 1970s in the United States when they were discovered to be toxic, and internationally since 2001. The European Union began a ban on brominated flame retardants, also toxic, in 2004, expanding restrictions in 2008.
However, these toxic products can be returned to some products through a process that we consider very beneficial: plastic recycling. A recent study, carried out by the environmental research organization Toxic-Free Future, in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam, found that 85% of the more than 200 products analyzed contained high levels of brominated flame retardants. These in turn came from recycling plastics from electronic waste, such as television casings and other devices.
The products were purchased in stores of all kinds in the United States, but the majority were manufactured in China, so they are distributed in other international markets. The same study warns of the risk that kitchen utensils and containers made from these recycled plastics, when heated, can release these harmful substances into the food.
Alternatives to plastic
One of these retardants, called decaBDE, was completely banned in 2021 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency after being linked to cancer, endocrine and thyroid problems, fetal and childhood development and neurobehavioral function, and reproductive and immune system toxicity. People with the highest levels of this substance in their blood were approximately 300% more likely to die from cancer than people with the lowest levels, according to a study published this year, carried out on 1,100 people.
Despite these restrictions, decaBDE was found in 70% of the samples analyzed in the Amsterdam study, at levels between five and 1,200 times higher than the European Union limit of 10 parts per million. Based on exposure to contaminated black plastic kitchen utensils, such as spatulas and ladles, the study researchers estimated that a person could be exposed to an average of 34.7 parts per million of decaBDE each day. The study only looked at black plastics, so it couldn’t determine whether other colors of plastics might also be exposed.
Brominated flame retardants are of particular concern, not only because of their toxicity, but because they tend to accumulate in living tissues and can remain in the body for years.
The scientists’ recommendation is to replace plastic kitchen utensils with stainless steel ones. This change may be incompatible with the use of non-stick pans, but these pans can also be problematic, especially when the coating deteriorates, and there are safer options such as traditional stainless steel or cast iron pans. These pans are also scratch-resistant and compatible with steel utensils.
In addition, it is advisable to avoid black plastic in other objects that come into contact with food, such as the trays in which prepared or home-delivered food comes, which should never be used in the microwave, since the heat favors the filtration of chemical substances through the microwave. the foods with which it is in contact.
If any of the plastic utensils have melted while cooking (a common incident), you should avoid eating the food that was being prepared with it, and proceed to throw it in a clean place where it will be recycled, hopefully, into something that does not have to be recycled. do with food.
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