A doctor has warned about the dangers of using plastic cooking utensils, which can lead to neurological damage, cancer risks and other health problems.
Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist who was trained at Harvard and Stanford universities, flagged some of the serious health risks in a video posted on his Instagram account, @doctor.sethi. The clip has received 231,000 views since it was shared this past Sunday.
The doctor says in the video: “Here is why I never use plastic kitchen utensils. Research shows that many plastic cooking utensils contain harmful brominated flame retardants, which are known endocrine disrupters, as well as harmful heavy metals like antimony [a chemical element] and lead.”
Brominated flame retardants are man-made chemicals used in various products, including plastics, textiles and electrical/electronic equipment, to make them less flammable. The body’s endocrine system is made up of tissues that create and release hormones to maintain different body functions, from metabolism to reproduction.
Plastic chemicals cost the U.S. health care system $249 billion in 2018 alone, according to a January study in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
The study warned: “Plastics contribute substantially to disease and associated social costs in the United States, accounting for 1.22 percent of the gross domestic product. The costs of plastic pollution will continue to accumulate as long as exposures continue at current levels.”
A person uses a plastic ladle in a pot of vegetable soup. A doctor warns against the use of plastic cooking utensils because of the harmful chemicals and heavy metals they contain.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
Sethi told Newsweek: “Brominated flame retardants can accumulate in the body and disrupt hormones, potentially leading to thyroid issues, neurological damage and cancer risks.”
As “endocrine disruptors,” brominated flame retardants interfere with hormone regulation, which can affect reproductive health, metabolism and brain development, the doctor said.
Ingesting heavy metals like antimony and lead “can cause toxicity, leading to neurological damage, organ dysfunction and developmental issues, especially in children,” Sethi said.
When you cook with plastic utensils, these harmful chemicals can end up in your food and your body.
“Plastic utensils are most dangerous when exposed to heat, as chemicals can leach into food. It’s best to avoid using plastic when cooking at high temperatures,” Sethi said, adding that even “melt-free” plastic utensils can release harmful chemicals under heat.
If the edges of your plastic utensils have begun to melt, “it means that these harmful chemicals have already degraded into the food,” he said. So replace your plastic utensils with a new wooden or metal set, he advises.
“Opting for materials like stainless steel or silicone is safer for high-temperature cooking,” the doctor said.
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