FOOD NEWS
There's One Huge Problem With Black Plastic Cooking Utensils
BY NATHAN LEGARE
Per a Chemosphere study, many products made of black plastic, from cooking utensils to take-out containers, may be high in brominated flame retardants that are known carcinogens.
The study found that black plastics contain a flame retardant named decaBDE, which used to be added to plastics, especially electronic casings, to make them fire-proof.
The U.S. and the European Union banned the chemical in the late 2000s, but the recycling of electronic waste brought it back into circulation, and thus in our black plastic utensils.
The chemical belongs to a class of flame retardants called PBDE. A high PBDE level in the blood correlates with higher mortality rates from cancer compared to lower levels.
These types of flame retardants also cause developmental toxicity and affect our nerves, hormones, and reproductive system, so try to use bamboo, wood, or metal utensils instead.
Flame retardants can get into the air via dust particles, so you can’t totally avoid exposure. It’s unknown if other colors of plastic utensils also contain toxic flame retardants.