PVC Food Wrap Dangerous In the Microwave
Toronto, Canada (PRWEB) March 22, 2006 –
Millions of people still use PVC wrap when cooking food in microwaves or storing meats and cheeses in the refrigerator, but there are dangers in using PVC food wrap because of the toxins contained in the popular plastic. Johns Hopkins and the People’s Republic of China have recently issued statements about the toxins found in PVC food wrap, and Wal-Mart recently reported that the company would seek out alternatives to PVC cling wrap. When PVC (polyvinyl chloride), is manufactured or subjected to high heat, the chlorine in it can chemically combine with organic materials, producing deadly byproducts known as dioxins. These dioxins can run off or leach from the PVC into the food. Alternatives are available, as there are a few non-PVC food wraps on the market.
Dioxins are known to cause cancer, immune suppression, and birth defects in animals. The Environmental Protection Agency recently found that the cancer risk to the general population from dioxin, one of the most toxic chemicals known to man, is now as high as one in one hundred people.
PVC requires the use of more chemical additives than any other common plastic because it is a very rigid, non-flexible material. To make PVC pliable, additives are used. However, these additives are NOT bonded to the PVC. One of the more widely used additives that makes PVC soft is di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a toxic chemical that has been associated with damage to the liver, ovaries, heart, kidneys, and lungs. Exposure to these additives and harmful plasticizers is not only through microwave cooking, but also through food wrapped in PVC cling wrap. Many meats, cheeses and other foods sold in delis and grocery stores are wrapped in PVC, and scientists have found evidence of toxic additives leaching off PVC into the food.
What alternatives exist? Diamant Food Wrap is one of the world’s first non-PVC food wraps for storing food. The food wrap is an excellent alternative to PVC film, as it does not allow for the migration of harmful agents between the film wrap and the food. Diamant Food Wrap is plasticizer-free, environmentally friendly, and recyclable.
Diamant Food Wrap has been approved by the Canadian Health Protection Branch for food contact and qualifies for the United States Food and Drug Administration non-objection status.
For consumers who want an alternative to PVC-based cling wrap for storing food, Diamant Food Wrap is an obvious choice. But the company warns that food wrap, itself, should not be used when cooking food in microwaves. Instead, the company recommends you keep your family safe by covering food with a plain white paper towel or use Corning Ware when cooking in a microwave.
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