The probability of encountering BPA in plastics is quite high, even when ordering food from outside, meeting with friends and drinking coffee, or simply drinking water in a plastic bottle. Since this chemical, which stands for Bisphenol A, is found in plastic-based beverage and food packages, it comes into contact with the beverage/food and has a risk of causing health problems.
We can say that BPA reaches its full potential, especially in hot pots, which is often the case when we order hot food from outside or buy hot drinks. Although companies from past to present have significantly reduced the amount of BPA in their products, we consume more chemicals as the temperature of our drinks or food increases.
Where is this BPA found?
BPA is mostly found in rigid and clear plastic packaging. It is also used as a coating in most canned goods. BPA is even found in dental fillings.
Until 2010, the chemical in question could appear in every product we touched. But then the fact that it was harmful began to become widespread, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wanted baby products to be BPA-free. Most companies followed this by voluntarily producing BPA-free products.
In summary, it can be said that the amount of BPA transferred to the foods and beverages in our homes is not high enough to put health at risk. However, this does not mean that plastic-based materials are completely safe to use.
What can we do to avoid exposure or minimize the amount of BPA?
First of all, it is recommended to reduce the use of cardboard, foam, plastic, transparent, crystal and glass cups as much as possible. The BPA in the coating inside the glasses in question comes into contact with your drink and the chemical spreads more as the temperature increases.
As a second option, choose not to microwave food containing plastic. As with the first, this will cause the heated food and the melted package to stick together to a certain extent. Putting boiling water in a plastic bottle is an example of this.
You can also choose to reduce your consumption of canned food. Because the coating inside the packages of these foods contains a significant amount of BPA.
If BPA penetrates the food when hard plastic containers are heated, what should we choose as an alternative?
When it comes to this issue, glass, porcelain or stainless steel-based containers are recommended for high-temperature beverages and foods. Although studies are ongoing to determine which substance is the safest, it would be safest for now to drink your coffee in a glass cup and eat your meal on a porcelain plate.
Let’s choose glass or porcelain, but why do outside sellers prefer plastic/cardboard cups instead of these materials, what are the advantages and disadvantages?
Advantages of using plastic packaging:
- The desired shape of the package can be easily given beforehand.
- Plastic packages do not take up much space and are easy to transport
- It is not easily corroded in hot and cold weather and protects the food/beverage inside from external factors.
- This protection feature also makes it attractive for food delivery companies and their customers.
- In addition to giving the desired shape to the packages, it is also easy to design on them.
Disadvantages of using plastic packaging:
- Not every facility can separate the coating inside the packages marketed as recyclable. For this reason, a large part of these packages accumulate in landfills.
- Since they are disposable, people prefer to throw them in the trash or recycle bins when they are done. When we throw it away, it will take a long time to dissolve in nature. In recycling, as we have just said, it will be difficult to separate them.
- BPA in the package contents has the risk of reducing the effect of chemotherapy in cancer diseases and affecting the sex hormones in men.
In summary:
It is recommended to use glass or porcelain materials as much as possible instead of cups and food containers containing plastic. This will greatly protect both your health and the health of the environment.
A large number of plastic cups are used in places such as coffee chains, and therefore it may not be possible to ask for glass cups in such places. If you want to avoid this situation – although espresso-based coffees are not possible for everyone – you can try to make coffee at home or choose to reduce coffee consumption outside.
In this way, you can keep BPA a little bit more away from your daily life.
Sources: 1, 2, 3
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