Using plastic bags to store hot, steaming food, how toxic is it?

Using plastic bags to carry hot takeaway food is popular, but can cause serious harm to health, especially for children. Why?

Plastic bags are increasingly widely used to store things because of their durability, toughness, water resistance and low cost... That is why many people gradually have the habit of using them freely. Sellers freely give them away, and buyers freely use them. However, the habit of using plastic bags to store hot food is seriously harmful to health, which many people are not aware of.

Dr. Vu Thi Tan, lecturer at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, said: "Plastic bags, cups, and disposable glasses made from PET plastic cannot withstand heat. When exposed to hot water above 70ºC, DOP (dioctin phthalate) and oligomers easily leach into food. Long-term use can lead to male infertility, early puberty, feminization of boys, and a number of other diseases."

Plastic bag used to hold food on the left and hot broth

Photo: Phan Diep

Hot noodles from the restaurant are taken home and poured into a bowl to eat.

Photo: Dr. Vu Thi Tan

Society is increasingly developing, life is busy so buying food in plastic bags to take home is convenient, saves time... but it is not impossible. Dr. Tan advises that everyone should take the trouble to bring glass containers when buying hot food.

Dr. Tan said that he himself is practicing green living and protecting the environment. Once, Dr. Tan brought a glass box to buy banh cuon and returned the styrofoam box to the shop owner so that he could use it for the next customer. However, the seller seemed very surprised.

That partly shows that although using plastic bags is toxic, it has become a common habit that is difficult to give up. Those who go against the majority are considered strange. "Try to limit plastic for your health and so that your children and grandchildren will not have to bear the debt of the previous generation's indiscriminate use of plastic bags," said Dr. Tan.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dung-tui-nilon-dung-thuc-an-nong-boc-khoi-doc-hai-den-muc-nao-185250707145747787.htm