You should not use newspapers as table mats, and it is even less advisable to let printed materials come into direct contact with food, as this can easily lead to ink contamination.
Many people have had this experience: to keep the table clean while eating, they place a few newspapers on it. There are also many informal online surveys with the theme "What newspaper do you use as a table mat when eating?". The results show that newspapers with large formats and many pictures are particularly popular. The reason, in addition to convenience, is that they eliminate the need to wipe the table. "We usually place the colored pages with pictures facing up, so we can look at them while eating, making the meal more relaxing," a company employee told a reporter.
Using a newspaper as a tablecloth might seem to have many benefits, but what is the reality? Song Guangsheng, Director of the Indoor Environment Monitoring Center of the China Interior Decoration Association, told a reporter from the "Life Times" in an interview that you should not use newspapers as table mats, and it is even less advisable to let printed materials come into direct contact with food, as this can easily lead to ink contamination.
Newspaper ink contains many toxic substances
Director Song pointed out that the main pollutants in ink are heavy metals, including lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury, etc., all of which can be harmful to the human body. For example, lead not only hinders the formation of human blood cells but can also enter brain tissue through the bloodstream, causing brain damage. When lead accumulates in the body to a certain extent, symptoms of chronic poisoning such as mental disorders, nightmares, insomnia, and headaches may appear.
In addition, the ink used in newspaper printing often contains toxic organic solvents such as ethanol, isopropanol, toluene, and xylene. Although most of the harm from these organic solvents disappears after they dry, the residual portion still poses a potential risk to the human body. Especially for the color pages of newspapers, which have a large ink coverage and thick layers, there is more residual organic solvent. Long-term inhalation may affect the central nervous system of the brain, causing great harm to health. [Food China]
Director Song pointed out that the harm from organic solvents is more apparent in new newspapers, so you must never use new newspapers as table mats.
Old newspapers are full of bacteria
So, what about old newspapers?
"If you use old newspapers that have been read as table mats, there is a risk of spreading viruses," Director Song said.
Generally speaking, human hands have tens of thousands of bacteria and viruses, and the dye used in newspapers has strong adsorption properties, making it easy for viruses to remain on the paper. The more people who read the newspaper, the more viruses adhere to it. If your hands or tableware touch the newspaper while eating, you could ingest the bacteria.
If you want a mat, use kitchen-specific paper
Director Song suggests that if you want a mat, you can use specialized kitchen paper. "It's about as wide as a newspaper, clean and hygienic, and not expensive. You can usually buy it at any supermarket. Of course, you could also use several paper napkins."
If you must use a newspaper as a mat, be sure to avoid letting your hands or tableware touch it to minimize potential harm.