Oct 22, 2008 6:00 am US/Eastern
3 On Your Side: Microwaves & Plastic Containers
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Recently there's been growing concern about the safety of microwaving foods in plastic containers and wraps. 3 On Your Side's Jim Donovan shows you some smart ways to keep your family safe.
Are we exposing our bodies to harmful chemicals simply by making our lives easier?
"People have been concerned that chemicals called BPA and phthalates that are in ordinary plastic containers and wraps can get into our food when heated. The foods that people have been most worried about are highly acidic ones like tomato sauce or fatty foods like beef gravy. So, Good Housekeeping decided to test these foods with wraps and containers and see what would happen," said Toni Hope with Good Housekeeping.
"We purchased food storage containers, wraps and bags that are commonly used by consumers and sent them to an independent lab to see if when they were used to heat food in the microwave any chemicals from the containers or the wraps leeched into the food. And the good news was that we found nothing leeched into the foods."
If you are still fearful, there are things you can do to minimize risk: store and heat food in glass or ceramic containers.
And if you cover them with plastic, don't have the plastic touching the food," said Sharon Franke with Good Housekeeping.
Good Housekeeping also suggests, if you do you use plastic containers, avoid putting those items in the dishwasher, the detergent and heat break down the plastic.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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