A gentle tear of plastic wrap locks in the deliciousness of food, offering great convenience for preservation. However, a growing body of research suggests that this convenience may come at a price beyond what we can imagine.
For the health of your entire family, never put food wrapped in plastic wrap into the microwave to heat or cook!
Food packaged in plastic wrap is everywhere, but scientists are concerned about the safety of this readily available convenience.
Some plastic wraps contain substances that interfere with the endocrine system, disrupting the body's hormones and potentially causing breast cancer in women, birth defects in newborns, reduced sperm count in men, and even mental illnesses.
According to a report in The New York Times, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has begun screening thousands of chemicals, trying to identify the culprits that could cause endocrine disruption and then conducting further in-depth research. Hormones are transported through the bloodstream to various parts of the body, regulating functions like metabolism, growth, and reproduction. When their levels are too high, they can disrupt the finely tuned endocrine system.
Animal experiments have shown harmful effects. Some plastic wraps (like cling film) are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and contain a plasticizer called di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) to increase the wrap's adhesion. However, DEHA can leach into food, especially high-fat foods, and is released more rapidly when the plastic is heated.
Recent tests by the U.S. Consumers Union on cheese wrapped in plastic wrap found that out of 19 products, seven cheeses wrapped in plastic wrap by grocery stores contained high levels of DEHA, ranging from 51 to 270 units per million, with an average of 153 units—far exceeding the safe limit. The European Union's regulated maximum limit is 18 units per million.
Because harmful effects have only been proven in animal experiments (such as on white mice), the U.S. government has not yet banned the industrial use of DEHA. The UK, however, mandated the switch to safer plasticizers over ten years ago. Some American consumers have already started to reduce their use of plastic wrap for food.
While plastic wrap is still widely used, consumers can also take steps to protect themselves:
As soon as you get home, remove foods like meat and cheese from their plastic wrap packaging. Wash the surface or shave off a thin layer before transferring them to other "food-grade plastic bags" or containers.
Do not let food touch any plastic wrap (cling film). Use covered ceramic or stainless steel containers more often.
If possible, try to bring your own paper to wrap meat when you buy it.
If food is in an uncovered ceramic bowl and covered with plastic wrap (cling film), do not fill it to the top to prevent the wrap from touching the food.
When food is wrapped in any plastic wrap (cling film), never use a microwave, steamer, or rice cooker to heat it! Even if the food doesn't touch the wrap, it's best to remove it!