ARE PLASTIC BOWLS AND PLASTIC WRAPS MICROWAVE SAFE?
By Alma Copeland, Home Economist TEAM Resources Do we need to worry about chemicals, particularly plasticizers, migrating from plastic to the hot food in the microwave? Plasticizers, the ingredients in plastic wraps that make them clingy and flexible have been accused of causing cancer and other health problems. According to research from the School of Public Health at University of California, Berkeley, March 2002, no one knows if these compounds are a danger. Since plastic has not been around for very long, the risk to human health of plasticizers and other chemicals found in plastic remains uncertain. You can avoid any problems by taking the following precautions. It is better to error on the side of caution. • Buy wraps that are approved for use with microwaves (most of them will not contain plasticizers). Look for wraps that have manufacturer’s instructions for use in a microwave, as they will be approved. • Regardless of the brand you use, be sure that the wrap does not touch foo
