Billions of nanoplastics released when microwaving baby food containers
Billions of nanoplastics released when microwaving baby food containers
Experiments showed that microwaving plastic baby food containers can release huge numbers of plastic particles -- in some cases, more than 2 billion nanoplastics and 4 million microplastics for every square centimeter of container.
- Babyfood containers are NSF plastic meant to be microwavable
- They only tested babyfood containers and a pouch
- these containers are made out of the same plastics used in many microwaveable products
I'm not microwaving plastic ever again.
For real, this is sobering information. I already try to avoid microwaving plastics, but I'm gonna be even more careful now, and try to spread this study. Billions of nanoplastics per square centimeter, it's scary to think about the size of containers, number that would likely be used in a day, and the fact that infants are so small with that information in context.
My kids are past baby stage. But I’m borderline ready to go to glass/ceramic and stainless only
Unfortunately my wife really likes nonstick too. I do make a habit of ditching any pan or pot with any blemish/chip. But still I’d prefer stainless there too.
note that 'ceramic' water bottles (lining - frank green) - and "ceramic" sauce-pans and cook-ware are not made of clay - they're made of a bunch of chemicals, teflon has some health concerns, but a bunch of research has gone into it, not so much into 'ceramic' products clay ceramic is not naturally non-stick , hence the other chemicals used
bunch of notes on ceramic:
spoiler
How ceramic coated cookware is made
A ceramic coated pan is essentially any metal pan that has a thin ceramic layer on top. The metal core or “substrate” of the pan varies. Some companies use anodized aluminum, an inexpensive metal and good conductor of heat; other brands use cast iron or stainless steel. Whatever the case, all ceramic coated cookware use some type of metal as a base.
Most ceramic coatings are actually “Sol-gel” coatings consisting of silica (sand) and other inorganic chemicals. This is the preferred method of applying ceramic coatings to cookware to make them less- or non-stick. Sol-gel is typically sprayed onto the metal substrate and then fired at a very high temperature. Depending on the manufacturer, this curing process can range between 400 and 800 degrees fahrenheit. While Sol-gel coatings are technically harder and able to withstand higher temperatures than PTFE coatings, most companies advise their customers not to heat ceramic coated pans above 500 degrees, otherwise the ceramic coating could decompose. When this happens, the ceramic pan can lose its nonstick properties and the surface will become coarse or gritty. These pans are not usually recommended to use in the dishwasher or under the broiler.
Are ceramic coatings nonstick?
Ceramic is not naturally nonstick. This is why most companies use Sol-gel technology to create a ceramic nonstick coating. But the idea of ceramic nonstick cookware is kind of a misnomer. First, as we learned above, the slick surface on ceramic coated pans usually degrades over time; and this process can be accelerated if the pans are exposed to high heat on a regular basis. Some experts have suggested that ceramic coatings have about one sixth of the lifespan as their PTFE counterparts. The question you should really be asking is, for how long are ceramic coatings nonstick? A well maintained ceramic coated pan is expected to hold up for 1-2 years - that is not very long, especially considering the high price of some of these pans.
Is ceramic nonstick cookware safer than other nonstick cookware?
Because of all the controversy and speculation surrounding fluoropolymers and PTFE coatings, it is no surprise that there’s an abundance of scientific research on these chemicals. Unfortunately there is not a lot of historical research on Sol-gel and its effects on human health. That is not to say that one is safer than the other. However, purchasing your cookware from a reputable company can help limit your risk of direct food contamination. As the old saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Chipping isn't that big a deal with nonstick. Overheating is the real danger. You should never let it it 500F. Also, once it starts to become discolored it should be disposed of.
Does she not care for ceramic coated pans? They work just as well, are more durable and are easier to maintain than nonstick. What's not to love? Honestly, I haven't even used stainless since getting a good set of ceramic cookware, I get a great sear and deglaze a pan just fine with ceramic
We committed to switching to stainless with an investment in a Saladmaster set. While the value of the brand is debatable the pans have been rock solid and easy to clean. It did take a bit to learn how to cook with them without sticking everything to them but it is doable. About the only thing I can't cook in them is eggs.
I’ve become increasingly weary about any heated foods in contact with plastic.
Near boiling hot soup from Chinese take-out poured into shitty plastic containers. Hard pass.
Also going to someone’s house and seeing they use those crock-pot plastic liner bags: 🤢
I also feel really bad about all the plastic dishes we have for our kids (we don’t microwave them). We’re actually going spend the coin on some stainless steel right now, thanks Lemmy!
Do yourself a favor and get some ceramic stuff as well to replace your nonstick. Works just as well, lasts longer and is easier to maintain. You won't have to worry about microplastics with it either
Omg u unlocked a core memory from me where my soup tasted bad and I noticed a lot of warping on the container and threw it out 🤢
On a similar note, many coffee brewing devices are made out of plastic. I bought a ceramic hario v60 for that exact reason, despite all sources claiming that plastic is safe and brews better. The aeropress is a different question. It's made of polypropylene and just now they made a glass version (which knowing me, I would break it within a week). I rarely brew in it partly because of it being plastic but brewing temperatures are between 80 and 92°C. Should I be worried?
Good question, everytime I use aeropress I think about plastic it's made of.
Arrogant fucking humans. This story plays out every time. And they want to blot out the sun to control climate change... We deserve everything we get for our hubris. I can't wait for humanity to collapse we are a scourge
While I agree that humans are often arrogant this is rather negative and not a great start for any kind of discussion
Indeed. I'm often overwhelmed by my feelings of fear and anger. Reading this gave me such a sense of futility, like wow I must be destined to die a slow and painful death of cancer, if poverty or civil uprising doesn't get me first. Discussion seems silly at this point. Capitalism has sealed our fate, there's little we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones in this environment. Everyone should be just as angry. To not be this angry one must be dissociating... Which is what I'll go back to now until the next article wakes up my fear and anger again.
Rather negative lol
It is mostly a small subset of humanity, the ultra-wealthy, powerful individuals, that fuck everything for everyone, I like to think that most of humanity are good people.
Yeah maybe
Agent Smith has entered the chat
My mom has always been paranoid about plastic containers. Good to see she was right
It's a little disappointing that they didn't do any testing of microplastic levels at different cook times. Instructions on the small baby food containers used in this study say to microwave for 20 seconds, and in my experience even going for 30 seconds makes the food uncomfortably hot. Id imagine that 3 full minutes boils the food and possibly melts the containers (and baby pouches are even smaller than the containers I'm referring to). The obvious testing procedure would be to use the containers as they are intended, so I'm a little suspicious why they chose such an arbitrarily long cook time
I totally agree. suspicious about their findings. They filled reusable pouches with milk and blasted it for 3 minutes. We've been feeding our toddler little spoons meals https://www.littlespoon.com/ which has a 30s to 60s microwave time to warm it. I really doubt solid food is absorbing billions of microplastics in 30s.
How is it that we've had microwaves for decades but no one checked this before?
first someone has to have the idea, then someone has to pay for it.
availability of some equipment may also present issues.
I'm glad in my family we always were careful with plastic. Sole months ago our microwave stopped functioning and we bought an electric oven, so now plastic containers and plates aren't even an option to heat our food. :D
Yep, I decided to buy some small glass cooking pots for my microwave.