09-10-2011, 07:43 PM
[size="3"][url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/special-report/Killers-in-the-kitchen/articleshow/9680169.cms"]KILLERS IN THE KITCHEN[/url] : TOI --10/09/2011
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[size="3"]Fat wallets and changing lifestyles have ensured that filters and plastic bottles replace matkas, the shiny steel and brass bowls give way to microwave-grade plastic and ceramic ware, the lowly cast iron kadhai to expensive non-stick pans. There's no doubt that new tech makes our lives easier but how much of it is really safe? The unwavering trust that it inspires in India ensures that few ask questions like - is it safe to deep-fry paneer in Teflon kadhais, store lemon pickle in the plastic jars, or cook chicken curry in microwavesafe bowls, without a worry?[/size]
[size="3"]Plastic standards[/size]
[size="3"]Expert opinion suggests the safety of some of these ubiquitous cookware and storage materials is taken for granted. For instance, every plastic bottle is graded between 1 and 7, the number displayed within a small triangle at the base of the bottle. Dr Y K Gupta , head of pharmacology at AIIMS in Delhi, says, "Every number means a particular level of toxicity . Number 3, 6 and 7 are the most hazardous. Number 3 means the presence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). When PVC burns, it releases dioxins and hydrogen chloride , both of which are highly toxic . Dioxins are chemical contaminants linked to cancer and reproductive problems. Number 6 means it has polystyrene, a human carcinogen." Number 7 means the presence of polycarbonates which contain Bisphenol A (BPA) which can mimic estrogen and thereby affect hormone levels.[/size]
[size="3"]PET bottles are graded number 1, but these too are not risk-free . "Long periods of use or exposure to sunlight can cause PET bottles to leach antimony," says Ravi Agarwal, director of Delhi-based NGO, Toxic Links. Antimony is a heavy metal used in the production of PET and is a carcinogen. It's best to discard the empty soft drink and juice bottles which are not really meant to store water. Agarwal says in Europe, baby bottles with nipples containing phthalates , which are added to increase plasticity and have been linked to metabolic interference, have been banned, but no such action has taken place in India.[/size]
[size="3"]Sticky side to non-stick pans[/size]
[size="3"]Similarly, there's been little reaction here to reports in the west about the probable carcinogenic nature of the chemical coating PFOA on non-stick cookware. Studies have shown that PFOA can cause cancer of the pancreas, liver and testes and could lead to miscarriages . At the high temperatures that Indian style of cooking requires, PFOA tends to degrade. "If heated to 446 degrees Fahrenheit , the coating emits toxic particles and gases. At 680 degrees F, six toxic gases are released," says Gupta. Roopa Vajpeyi of Delhibased NGO, Consumer Voice, warns that once the coating comes off, the pan is too dangerous to be used and should be discarded.[/size]
[size="3"]Ceramic & melamine risks[/size]
[size="3"]There are no standards in India with regard to many of these materials , says Agarwal. "Nobody is paying attention to these things. There is presence of lead in the attractive glazing applied on ceramic ware. It has been banned in the west. But there's no control in India and people are unaware of the risks." When the glazes are properly formulated and fired at a high temperature, the lead is sealed. However, if they are not properly prepared and fired, lead may leach into food stored in the ceramic ware and cause lead poisoning.[/size]
[size="3"]Likewise, it has been found that samples of acidic food when put under exaggerated conditions (heated to 160 degrees F for two hours) in melamine ware could cause leaching of chemicals like formaldehyde. Ingestion of the toxic chemicals in large amounts could cause kidney stones, renal failure, abdominal vomiting and vomiting, says Gupta. He adds that melamine should be used only to store dry food items.[/size]
[size="3"]All about aluminium[/size]
[size="3"]Studies have cited exposure to aluminium as a great risk for Alzheimer's disease. According to Gupta, it's advisable to avoid wrapping hot food in aluminum foil - the food should be allowed to cool and should be in contact with only the dull side of the foil.[/size]
[size="3"]Experts say it's best to use anodized aluminum cookware - these are safer and cheaper. Anodization is essentially a way to make the aluminum stronger and more durable - the oxidized aluminum forms a strong coating as it replaces the original aluminum on the surface, resulting in an extremely hard substance, (sometimes as hard as a diamond), says Roopa Vajpeyi of Consumer Voice.[/size]
[size="3"]So what's the best option? As far as possible, stick to glass and steel. [/size]
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Quote:The urban kitchen is a technological dream today. Endless gadgets, exotic spices and multicuisine cookbooks line the larder shelves. And it's not just what we eat, but the way we cook and store food that's also getting a complete makeover.[/size]
[size="3"]Fat wallets and changing lifestyles have ensured that filters and plastic bottles replace matkas, the shiny steel and brass bowls give way to microwave-grade plastic and ceramic ware, the lowly cast iron kadhai to expensive non-stick pans. There's no doubt that new tech makes our lives easier but how much of it is really safe? The unwavering trust that it inspires in India ensures that few ask questions like - is it safe to deep-fry paneer in Teflon kadhais, store lemon pickle in the plastic jars, or cook chicken curry in microwavesafe bowls, without a worry?[/size]
[size="3"]Plastic standards[/size]
[size="3"]Expert opinion suggests the safety of some of these ubiquitous cookware and storage materials is taken for granted. For instance, every plastic bottle is graded between 1 and 7, the number displayed within a small triangle at the base of the bottle. Dr Y K Gupta , head of pharmacology at AIIMS in Delhi, says, "Every number means a particular level of toxicity . Number 3, 6 and 7 are the most hazardous. Number 3 means the presence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). When PVC burns, it releases dioxins and hydrogen chloride , both of which are highly toxic . Dioxins are chemical contaminants linked to cancer and reproductive problems. Number 6 means it has polystyrene, a human carcinogen." Number 7 means the presence of polycarbonates which contain Bisphenol A (BPA) which can mimic estrogen and thereby affect hormone levels.[/size]
[size="3"]PET bottles are graded number 1, but these too are not risk-free . "Long periods of use or exposure to sunlight can cause PET bottles to leach antimony," says Ravi Agarwal, director of Delhi-based NGO, Toxic Links. Antimony is a heavy metal used in the production of PET and is a carcinogen. It's best to discard the empty soft drink and juice bottles which are not really meant to store water. Agarwal says in Europe, baby bottles with nipples containing phthalates , which are added to increase plasticity and have been linked to metabolic interference, have been banned, but no such action has taken place in India.[/size]
[size="3"]Sticky side to non-stick pans[/size]
[size="3"]Similarly, there's been little reaction here to reports in the west about the probable carcinogenic nature of the chemical coating PFOA on non-stick cookware. Studies have shown that PFOA can cause cancer of the pancreas, liver and testes and could lead to miscarriages . At the high temperatures that Indian style of cooking requires, PFOA tends to degrade. "If heated to 446 degrees Fahrenheit , the coating emits toxic particles and gases. At 680 degrees F, six toxic gases are released," says Gupta. Roopa Vajpeyi of Delhibased NGO, Consumer Voice, warns that once the coating comes off, the pan is too dangerous to be used and should be discarded.[/size]
[size="3"]Ceramic & melamine risks[/size]
[size="3"]There are no standards in India with regard to many of these materials , says Agarwal. "Nobody is paying attention to these things. There is presence of lead in the attractive glazing applied on ceramic ware. It has been banned in the west. But there's no control in India and people are unaware of the risks." When the glazes are properly formulated and fired at a high temperature, the lead is sealed. However, if they are not properly prepared and fired, lead may leach into food stored in the ceramic ware and cause lead poisoning.[/size]
[size="3"]Likewise, it has been found that samples of acidic food when put under exaggerated conditions (heated to 160 degrees F for two hours) in melamine ware could cause leaching of chemicals like formaldehyde. Ingestion of the toxic chemicals in large amounts could cause kidney stones, renal failure, abdominal vomiting and vomiting, says Gupta. He adds that melamine should be used only to store dry food items.[/size]
[size="3"]All about aluminium[/size]
[size="3"]Studies have cited exposure to aluminium as a great risk for Alzheimer's disease. According to Gupta, it's advisable to avoid wrapping hot food in aluminum foil - the food should be allowed to cool and should be in contact with only the dull side of the foil.[/size]
[size="3"]Experts say it's best to use anodized aluminum cookware - these are safer and cheaper. Anodization is essentially a way to make the aluminum stronger and more durable - the oxidized aluminum forms a strong coating as it replaces the original aluminum on the surface, resulting in an extremely hard substance, (sometimes as hard as a diamond), says Roopa Vajpeyi of Consumer Voice.[/size]
[size="3"]So what's the best option? As far as possible, stick to glass and steel. [/size]
[/indent]