This kitchen appliance can wreak havoc on your health – it's not a microwave

health

by Brooke Kato

Popular kitchen gadgets that you use every day can have a negative impact on your health.

Plastic cutting boards may release microplastics into your food, according to a recent study published in the journal Environment Science & Technology.

In the academic paper, the scholars theorized that users of plastic cutting boards could be exposed to millions of plastic particles due to repeated impacts from the knife.

According to Harvard University researchers, these microplastics are a known health hazard and have been linked to reproductive problems, digestive problems, and cancer.

Mark Jones, a former industrial chemist and chemical consultant, told Yahoo News: “We unknowingly consume as much plastic as a credit card each week.”

In fact, you could be ingesting microplastics just by drinking water from a plastic bottle, eating food in plastic packaging, or even eating meat.

Tasha Stoiber, a senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group, told Yahoo News that out of an abundance of caution, she doesn't use plastic cutting boards.

“Anything you can do to reduce your exposure to plastic is a good thing,” Stoiber says. “A good place to start is with what you use in the kitchen.”

Stoiber personally prefers wood or metal cutting boards because, in addition to avoiding microplastics, they are more durable, easier to clean, and more sustainable.

Similarly, she recommends using reusable stainless steel water bottles with filtered water to reduce microplastic consumption and recommends avoiding the use of plastic containers for food storage. Masu.

Stoiber argued that the grooves in plastic plates can prove difficult to disinfect and thoroughly clean, but food safety experts disagree about the cleanliness of plastic and wood.

Wooden cutting boards are naturally antibacterial and look great on your countertop, but professional chef Stevie Cheap previously told Woman & Home that the porous surface, where food tends to stick, can cause bacteria. He said there is a possibility that he is hiding there.

Stoiber argues that the same is true for textured plastic plates, but the key to food safety is distinguishing between raw meat and raw vegetables, and multiple plates are needed to prevent food poisoning. It means to become.

“Putting raw meat and seafood on a separate board prevents bacteria from contaminating vegetables, fruits, and other foods that don't require cooking,” says Brittany, executive director of the Food Safety Education Partnership. Saulnier told Southern Living.

Instead, we recommend bamboo cutting boards, which are harder and less porous than typical wooden ones.