Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

New advice about healthy cooking methods

17 replies

Earlybird · 24/05/2006 11:06

A doctor friend in America sent me this, and I thought it was worth sharing with all of you. Some of it was obviously paraphrased from a telly interview, but the message is clear.

Cancer update Johns Hopkins
Cancer News from Johns Hopkins:

  1. No plastic containers in microwave
  2. No water bottles in freezer
  3. No plastic wrap in microwave

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well.

Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He
said that the combination of fat, high heat, and

plastics release dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex, or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the
paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons. Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. as the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food.
Cover food with a paper towel instead.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 24/05/2006 11:07

cheers for this, earlybird.

and bump!

madmarchhare · 24/05/2006 11:10

Oh god, something else to feel bad about.

Blu · 24/05/2006 11:13

I do honestly think this one is worth taking notice of. I have known for some time about this....dioxins are also notorious for causing limb deficiencies in unborn kids...the number of plastic bottles I froze to keep cool on Greek beaches thoughout my 20s and 30s haunts me.
Dioxins are fat soluable, so stay in the body, too. I saw a documentary where they tested women to see how much they had absorbed - it wa quite significant.

Gloworm · 24/05/2006 11:22

i've known about this for some time. when using the miocrowave, we always put the food in a bowl and cover with a plate.

peachyClair · 24/05/2006 11:50

I remember something about this too from when I worked for Macmillan cancer relief its genuine I think. And glass / ceramic bowls so cheap in plaes like Wilkinsons.

Send my kids to school with sarnies wrapped in paper, but school complained. And I ignored . Grin

madmarchhare · 24/05/2006 11:54

Just realised that my post could read as being sarcastic Blush, it really wasnt meant to be.

motherinferior · 24/05/2006 12:00

EB, what is recommended to freeze food in (thinks uncomfortably of large number of freezer bags in our freezer)...?

expatinscotland · 24/05/2006 12:05

Yikes, MI! Good point. I make baby food and freeze it in plastic ice cube trays, then pop the cubes out into a plastic zippy bag, then defrost it in plastic bowls and heat it in the microwave Shock.

I don't microwave EBM, but I do freeze it in plastic containers.

Earlybird · 24/05/2006 12:15

Gosh MI - don't know. Wrap in foil?

OP posts:
ruty · 24/05/2006 14:47

Don't have a microwave. Hate the things. Someone sue me! Grin

but i do worry about this too. Don't use clingfilm either, but plastic is all around us and impossible to avoid on so many levels. Good advice though.

SenoraPostrophe · 24/05/2006 15:01

isn't that why cling film is now PVC free?

Also I thought it was only scratched plastic you had to worry about?

saadia · 24/05/2006 15:25

Thanks for the info Earlybird will definitely not be using plastic anymore.

PanicPants · 24/05/2006 15:28

Expat, thats exactly what I do.

What do you cover your ice cube trays with? I use cling film but maybe I shouldn't.

God I've given my child cancer!

PanicPants · 24/05/2006 15:33

What about the melomine (sp) bowls? are they safe to heat food in the microwave?

Gingerbear · 24/05/2006 15:34

there is some truth in this - but not totally - see \link{http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-microwave-dioxin2.htm\here}

MrsBadgerTheCelloPedaller · 24/05/2006 15:37

[scientist hat on - seem to be wearing it a lot lately!]

This email has been exposed as mostly urban legend by \link{http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cookplastic.asp\Snopes}, though it does have a basis in fact.

Real information about this actually issued by Johns Hopkins themselves is \link{http://www.bms.jhmi.edu/JHI/English/Media/Find_an_Expert/FE_RolfHaldenJuly05.asp\here}.
There was also an article in the peer-reviewed journal 'Pediatric Nursing' in December - I'm trying to find a copy of the full text at the moment.

Doctors are just as gullible when it comes to forwarded emails as anyone else.

Gingerbear · 24/05/2006 15:38

Also, dioxins cannot migrate from plastic into food at freezing temperatures?!?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page