US pediatricians warn: these plastic containers are dangerous for children
'07.08.2018'
Source: New York Post
Parents, attention! A recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics warns against some uses of plastic utensils and containers for storing foods intended for feeding children.
Doctors of the Academy do not recommend heating the food in the microwave, putting it in plastic dishes: chemicals used to make plastic can come into contact with food when exposed to microwaves. These substances are dangerous to health, especially when it comes to children, writes New York Post.
For example, bisphenols like BPA are often used to cure plastic. But the chemical "can act like estrogen in the body and potentially change the timing of puberty, decrease fertility, increase body fat and affect the nervous and immune systems," the academy said.
In addition, phthalates, which make plastic more flexible, “can affect male genital development, increase childhood obesity and contribute to cardiovascular disease,” officials said, noting that some phthalates in children's products such as teething rings were already banned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission last year.
Doctors also do not recommend washing plastic containers or cups in the dishwasher.
While some plastic containers are labeled “microwave safe,” these items can also pose a health hazard if they are scratched or discolored.
When these changes occur in microwave-safe containers, it means that “a certain area that is not intended to come into contact with food comes into contact with the food, causing more chemicals to migrate into the food,” says Rolf Halden, director of the Center for Environmental Safety at the Bioprospecting Institute at Arizona State University.
As a safe alternative, the Academy of Pediatrics recommends the use of glass or ceramic containers.
