Tempted to keep those black food containers? Think again

These containers are made of black plastic, which has a chemical compound called dicabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), a flame retardant, which is a hazardous pollutant

Hyderabad: Every time we order food from a nearby restaurant through food delivery apps such as Zomato or Swiggy, the food comes packed in nice-looking black food containers. And it’s no secret that many of us keep it for reuse.

These black food containers are also sold at affordable prices on many e-commerce platforms with the claims of being durable, leak-proof, designed to withstand temperature changes and suitable for microwaves.  And we hardly miss a chance to add them in our collection of kitchenware.

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Now it’s high time to stop using them… These black boxes are made of black plastic. We are well aware that plastics are harmful for us and studies have found microplastics in our bodies.

But, that is not the only reason to stop using these food containers. These containers are made of black plastic, which has a chemical compound called dicabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), a flame retardant that belongs to the group of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).

Initially, decaBDE was thought to be safe and came into commercial use in 1970s. The plastics industry switched to decaBDE in the 1990s. Later studies, conducted on this compound, found it as a hazardous pollutant.

In 2017, the compound was added to the Stockholm Convention of Persistent Organic Pollutants, which means the member nations have to take measures to eliminate its production and use.

However, a very recent study found that despite a ban on this toxic flame retardant, it is being widely used in Asian and African countries. The compound was detected in food containers, kitchen utensils, and toys.

Why it’s a concern?

The biggest mistake we do is to use these black food containers to reheat food in microwaves or pack hot food. As the temperature increases, dicabromodiphenyl ether gets released from these containers and goes into our body. Prolonged use is said to cause cancers and adversely affect the children’s growth as well.

International agencies have also warned of cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as benzo(a)pyrene, which is often present in black plastics.

So, next time if you are using these black containers, avoid them. Instead use glass containers to reheat food in microwaves or steel tiffin boxes to pack your hot lunch.