Can You Microwave Plastic Wrap? Safety Tips and Guidelines
– Research has shown that heating certain types of plastic wraps in the microwave can cause harmful chemicals to leach into food.
– A high-school student found that di(ethyhexyl)adepate (“DEHA”), a potential carcinogen, and xenoestrogens, which may cause low sperm counts and breast cancer, were leaching from the wraps into food.
– DEHA levels were found to be 4000 times higher than the FDA safety standard.
– Xenoestrogens have no FDA regulations.
– The USDA recommends using microwave-safe wraps and avoiding direct contact between plastic wraps and food during microwaving.
– Claire Nelson, a high-school student, tested four different types of plastic wrap and found that DEHA and xenoestrogens were leaching into the food.
– DEHA levels in the oil were found to be 200 to 500 parts per billion, which is at least 4000 times higher than the FDA safety standard.
– There are no FDA regulations for xenoestrogens.
– The EPA lists DEHA as a possible human carcinogen, but some recent studies suggest there is no cancer link.
– It is recommended to use microwave-safe wraps and avoid letting plastic wraps touch food during microwaving.