Placing plastic food containers in the microwave may be harmful to your health. Some containers are okay and others are not. It’s important to understand why plastic food containers are a problem and how to avoid the dangers.
When you place some plastic food containers in the microwave, depending on the amount of time you are heating your food and at what temperature, chemicals used to produce the plastic may leak into your food.
The US Food and Drug Authority is aware of this problem and mandates that manufacturers of plastic food containers test their products to be sure that this danger does not exist. If you follow some basic rules, microwaving is quite safe.
Always check for the “microwave safe” label on containers and wrappers. When you see plastic food containers with a “microwave safe” label, this is an indication that the required testing has been carried out and that the risk for chemicals leaking into your food is low.
Although the FDA reports that low levels of chemicals may move from the plastic to the food during microwaving, especially when it’s a fatty food such as meat and cheese.
Never microwave food covered with newspaper, as the print may contaminate food and never put foil in the microwave as it will spark, making it a fire hazard.
The damage caused by plastic food containers has been studied in animals. In these studies, high doses of toxic chemicals from plastics have led to reproductive illnesses, cancer and other health issues.
It is believed, however, that the leaking of the chemicals in plastic in very small amounts is not a health hazard in humans.
