This article first appeared on the Men's Health website. Here’s the truth about frozen dinners, boil-in-the-bag rice, and steam-in-the-bag vegetables.By Ali Eaves Thursday, December 3, 2015, 8:30 am You’ve probably heard that heating food in plastic containers is dangerous. But what about food that’s meant to be cooked in the package, like frozen dinners or boil-in-the-bag rice? That must be safe, right? The answer is complicated. The concern stems from the fact that chemicals in some plastics—namely, bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates—leach from the containers into your food, says Laura Vandenberg, Ph.D., a professor of environmental health science at the University of Massachusetts—Amherst. The chemicals are more likely to leach if the container has been heated, says Vandenberg. But the Food and Drug Administration has repeatedly reviewed the research on BPA and insisted that it’s safe. Same goes for the European Food Safety Authority. FDA scientists say that your body quickly breaks down BPA and excretes it in your urine and feces, no harm done. Why the controversy? It’s impossible to prove whether these chemicals are harmful or not because you’d have to risk poisoning people to find out, says Men’s Health Nutrition Advisor Alan Aragon, M.S. So scientists have to rely on studies done on animals, mathematical models, and research that shows correlation but can’t prove cause and effect. And those methods aren’t definitive. If you want to err on the side of caution, it’s easy to reduce your exposure. Just dump the contents of your frozen meal or other packaged food into a glass container. Put the lid on slightly askew and microwave it that way, says Vandenberg. Use a food thermometer to ensure the meal has reached a safe cooking temperature. If you’re steaming vegetables, you may want to add a splash of water to make sure they cook properly. As for rice, there’s plenty of quick-cooking rice at your supermarket that doesn’t need to be boiled in the bag. What is your opinion about this? Feel free to share with us.
1 Comment
Harley
25/5/2022 11:30:54 am
I am thankful that you wrote about this - its a big part of our food safety. These information is brilliantly written, so thanks! I want to share a company that helped me sort out my community duties and build my club. "Community Club Victoria". https://www.ccv.net.au They understand club needs and provide support and advice to club networks. Once again, thank you.
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