What Are the Dangers of Plastic Food Packaging Residue?

The plastic packaging that food is contained in can pose a health threat in some cases. When heated, the plastic packaging releases residues that can melt or migrate onto the food itself. As technology has changed the process of plastic packaging and food storage, so has the ability to determine the dangers in using these plastic packaging containers.

Dioxin

• Dioxin is a compound found in plastic wraps and plastic packaging. Dioxin compounds have been linked to birth defects and cancer and there are various levels of dioxin in plastic packaging. Studies have confirmed that dioxin is released and can migrate when heated at extremely high temperatures such as in incinerators, however there is no evidence the harmful chemicals migrate during microwave heating.

Carcinogens

• When a plastic food packaging is put into the microwave and heated, a component called a plasticizer can migrate from the plastic to the food. It has been suspected that one form of plasticizer is diethylhexyl adepate (DEHA), which is a carcinogen.

Polymers

• Plastic is a synthetic polymer. Among the polymer group are starches, latex and cellulose. Combined with different substances and chemicals and used in various formulas, polymer is included in nylon. Polymers are also found in silly putty, silicon and plumbing sealant. And, at high heat such as the microwave setting, polymers can migrate from the plastic packing to the food.

DEHA

• If all these chemicals are harmful, why are they added to the plastic packaging in the first place? DEHA for one is added to the makeup of plastic because it makes the plastic more flexible. When you fold plastic around leftover food, DEHA is the chemical that softens the plastic enough to make it possible. It has not been proven that there is enough DEHA in the chemical makeup of plastic to cause serious health risks.

Evidence

• While government health agencies and the plastics industry have confirmed the presence of these chemicals in plastic packaging, they have not confirmed health hazards associated with the chemicals. However, environmental groups, along with consumer awareness groups, differ, saying there is a direct correlation between the chemicals in the plastic packaging used for foods and the health hazards caused by the harmful chemicals.