Microwave oven & Plastic. Cooking in it causes cancer?

Question

I received an email saying Johns Hopkins Institute put out a research paper.They say cooking in plastic containers in a microwave causes cancer. It may be a hoax. But I have always been suspicious of this method of cooking.

Apparenrently, the dioxins leaches into fat in the meat (or even vegetables) and this is dangerous. Any truth to this?

I advise everyone in my family to use Corningware, a neutral glass container to cook meat.

Any comments? What's your experience in this area?

There is some info about Carcinogen in plastic and microwave here:

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-microwave-dioxin2.htm

Consumer advocates and FDA are at loggerheads over the research findings. Makes an interesting reading though.

Answer 1

I agree that it is a health hazard.

I stopped using as much plastic in the microwave as I can.

I also threw away all of my teflon stuff years ago and told everyone to do the same. I had a friend who killed his beloved 20-yr old birds when he accidently burned the pan - there is nothing sadder because they were his 'kids'. Until recently, everyone thought I was insane including my mother.

There will be a lot of things that come to light during the next decades. People won't be able to suppress the information. Funny, people think all of these regulations help us and perform a public good when in reality the regulations create loopholes for the introduction of harmful substances because it creates acceptable losses and mediate all subsequent litigation.

So funny I forgot to laugh!!

Answer 2

Microwaves dissipate very quicky as your distance from the microwave increases. "Inasmuch as the significance for humans of repeated exposure to low levels of microwave radiation is still unclear, there is enough evidence to warrant certain commonsense precautions: Stay at least an arm's length away from an operating microwave oven Do not operate an oven when it is empty Do not operate an oven if the door will not close properly or is in any way damaged Never tamper with the safety interlock switches or the fuse" Hope this helps With kind regards David Edge

Answer 3

I haven't heard much about this. I can see how it might increase cancer risk, but I think you're safe enough so long as you only use the containers marked as microwave-safe. I've eaten food from plastic microwaves containers for years and have never had any cancer I knew of. I really think other things are much more of a risk; going out in the summer sun with no sunscreen, or having a bad diet, are both much more likely to give you cancer than microwaving your food in plastic containers is.

Answer 4

I believe that the article referred to printed plastics like reused butter or sour cream containers.

The inks on these containers release quite a bit of toxins.

The dioxins released from microwaving plain plastics are probably negligible compared to the dioxins released into your car when it sits in the sun with its myriad of plastic and synthetic materials.

Answer 5

I have heard that certain types of plastics actually off gas into the foods and taint them. When I had babies, I remmeber the pediatrician saying not to put the bottles in the microwave because of the plastic off gassing. I have just steered clear of cooking anything in plastic since then.

Answer 6

I read the natural cures they dont want you to know about and he has comments on cooking with microwaves. He says all food cooked in microwaves end up being bad for you, He also says somethings like some dryers cause depression.

Answer 7

Yes I heard it on my local radio station, but they also said that the plastic bottled water shouldn't be placed in the freezer because it also causes cancer.

Answer 8

well remember that microwave does give way some radiation, but we are surrounded by radiation even on the computer that we are all sitting at. they may be some truth but we have to be careful on how we eat and store our food. we all have been expose to something that we don't even know we have.

Answer 9

I have heard the same thing. Apparently it is true. When in doubt about something you hear, especially in an email, go to snopes.com to check out its origin and if it is fact or fiction.

Answer 10

Radiated food period is BAD for you. Also foods cooked in Canola oil and Hydrogenated oils.