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Tupperware, the iconic kitchen brand that has been a household name for decades, recently… She received a lifeline from her creditorsHowever, the business still faces major challenges. Given the brand’s prospects, You’re probably wondering how long your stash of food storage containers remain safe to use – especially if they’re old.
Knowing the answer to this question for any type of reusable plastic food storage product — not just Tupperware — often boils down to understanding what it’s made of. Bisphenol A, more commonly known as BPA, is a chemical, according to the U.S Institute of Environmental Health SciencesIt has been used for years in the production of some plastics to make them more durable and resistant to breakage. Unfortunately, BPA can also pose potential health risks.
In human studies, Exposure to bisphenol A This is associated with an increased risk of developing a wide range of health conditions or problems, such as infertility, altered fetal growth, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and aggression among children, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, and heart disease, said Laura Vandenberg. , professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Plastic water bottles are not only harmful to the environment, but also affect your health
In addition to food containers, BPA has been used in many other products, such as shatter-resistant windows, water bottles and glasses, and in the resin coating of metal food cans, bottle caps, and water supply pipes. The composition of your plastic product can depend on the year you purchased it, Vandenberg said.
Since March 2010, products sold by Tupperware in the United States and Canada have been BPA-free. According to its website.
CNN contacted Tupperware for comment but did not receive a response.
“We’re concerned about those hard, break-resistant plastics that were made a decade ago that were made with BPA,” Vandenberg said. “Every time they are used, they leach small amounts of BPA. … Even low levels of BPA that leach from consumer plastics, linings of canned foods or other consumer goods … have been shown to be associated with harm, and should certainly be People pay attention to it.
“If it wasn’t safe the day you bought the product, it won’t be safe 10 years later,” Vandenberg said. In fact, the longer you have it, the more dangerous it is to your health, she added.
Container corrosion risks
Squeezing plastic food containers by washing them in the dishwasher or using stiff scrubbing brushes “increases the ability of that plastic to filter through whatever it’s made of,” Vandenberg said. Scratches can create deep grooves for bacteria to live in, too, said James Rogers, director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports, a nonprofit consumer research, testing and advocacy organization.
Putting high-acid foods — like tomatoes or citrus fruits — in these products does the same thing, Vandenberg said.
She added that the “microwave safe” label on some plastic containers does not mean that the product is completely safe from a health standpoint.
“Some plasticizers and chemicals can transfer from plastic containers to food during heating,” Rogers said. “So we totally advocate moving your food from a plastic container to a glass container and putting it in the microwave that way.”
A discoloration of the container could indicate a chemical change in the plastic, Vandenberg said. “This usually happens because there are a lot of tiny holes or tiny tears,” she explained. “And now there is an interaction with food and plastic (because plastic decomposes).” So if the plastic changes color, that tells you that the plastic is disintegrating.
Any damaged plastic food storage containers should be disposed of, said Sam Cole, global director of food and chemical product, equipment and chemical certification at the National Safety Foundation, an organization that facilitates the development of public health standards and certification programs to protect food, water and the consumer. Products and environment.
5 ways to reduce your plastic waste
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– Source: CNN Business
BPA in the body
The majority of daily exposure to BPA occurs through diet, according to the US Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. “The reason we’re concerned about BPA is because, back in the 1930s when it was tested for use as a drug, it was clear that it acted like estrogen,” Vandenberg said. He said. “Estrogen is a very powerful hormone that is important for reproduction and fertility, but it is also important for the development of the sex organs, the development of the brain, and the control of metabolism.
She added: “It has a role in muscle growth and fat development.” “So even small amounts of messing with the estrogen or estrogen pathways in the body can have really serious consequences for our health.”
Vandenberg added that the shape of the molecules in BPA makes it more likely to bind to estrogen receptors. “I avoid using these reusable plastics as much as possible, because I have not yet seen good evidence of consumer plastics that are free of estrogenic properties.”
In general, plastics labeled “PC” (for polycarbonate) or recycling codes 3 or 7 are more likely to contain BPA, according to Vandenberg and the American Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Some manufacturers have phased out BPA and other bisphenol compounds, sometimes called bisphenol analogues, from their products because of public interest — not regulatory action — but not all, Vandenberg said.
“Consider replacing it with something chemically inert, like glass,” Vandenberg said. “If you can’t replace everything at once, replace it one at a time.”
“I know they’re heavy, they can break and all the rest of that, but we believe the benefits of using glass containers to store and reheat food outweigh the risks,” Rogers said.
You can also choose porcelain, ceramic or stainless steel containers, especially for hot foods and liquids, according to Vandenberg and the American Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
