Plastic Food Containers and Your Health: Is It Worth the Risk?

They’re easy, convenient and a staple in most kitchens, but a new study finds that eating from plastic food containers significantly increases the risk of organ malfunction and disease. 

When heating food and liquids in plastic takeout or storage containers or bottles, the extreme temperature causes the plastic to “seep” into or release tiny plastic particles into our food. When ingested, these tiny plastic particles are released into all parts of the body causing build-up in gut microbiome that can lead to inflammation, neurotoxicity, disruption of hormone production, organ dysfunction, and learning and memory problems just to name a few. These changes to the gut biome not only cause a variety of health problems, but they can result in extreme damage to the brain, heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys. 

This study also found that the damage to the body was significant regardless of how long the food was heated, indicating even minimal exposure to plastics carries a risk. Another recent study suggests that the presence of microplastics in the body increases the risk of heart attack and stroke by a staggering 50 percent.

So, what can we do? Many countries are ahead of the game and taking action to reduce or ban the use of plastics, specifically single-use plastics like cutlery, straws, and food containers.  While we haven’t seen bans in the U.S. yet, it’s easy to reduce your risk by avoiding using plastic containers to store or reheat food. Opt for glass containers to store and reheat food and reduce or eliminate plastic water bottles by using metal or glass refillable water bottles.