At one time, plastic wrap (the generic term for thin-film polymers used to protect refrigerated food) was made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) containing phthalates, chemicals called plasticizers used to increase flexibility. Phthalates are probably toxic because they disrupt hormones, and these compounds can leach into food wrapped in plastics made with them. But as of 2006, almost all plastic wraps made in the United States are phthalate-free. Unfortunately, most are now made with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC). (The exceptions are wraps used in catering and professional kitchens.) LDPE and PVDC don’t adhere as well as plastic wraps made with PVC, but more worrying is the fact that LDPE may contain diethylhexyl adipate (DEHA), another potential endocrine disruptor that has been linked to breast cancer in women and low sperm counts in men. Since manufacturers aren’t required to list the actual chemical makeup of their plastic wrap on the boxes, consumers are at risk.
It is also good to bear in mind that there are perfluorinated chemicals in most baking papers!
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, also used in floor wax, textiles, carpets, carpet cleaners, pizza boxes and Teflon). It has also been linked to nasty side effects such as the development of tumors, neonatal death and toxic effects on the immune system, liver, and endocrine system. (4) PFOA also has a half-life of three years and is not metabolized by the body, meaning once it’s in you (as it is in most humans living in industrialized nations) it’s there for a long, long while.
Never use aluminium foil to cook your food in it!
Aluminum is a known neurotoxin that researchers estimate inhibits more than 200 biologically important functions in your body. (1) Aluminum is a known neurotoxin that researchers estimate inhibits more than 200 biologically important functions in your body. Additional studies link excessive aluminum exposure to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, while others have shown it causes nervous system damage. (2)
What should you use then?
When it comes to eco-friendliness, Agreena 3-in-1 Wrap silicone bakeware effectively replaces the need for disposables like cling film, aluminium foil, baking paper, and many other single-use items, most of which contain harmful chemicals that leach into your food, are non-recyclable and add to our planet’s deeply-worrying landfill problems.
Agreena silicone is created using the platinum curing process. This, together with the highest quality raw material ensures that the sheet is stable, inert and pure, which is why the medical and infant industries utilise the same processes for their manufacturing. Not all silicone is created equal. It is not re-extruded and undergoes no chemical transformations. It is also completely inert so that it will not leach chemicals into the environment at any temperatures as most plastics and synthetic rubbers do.
Agreena silicone wraps are shredded and added to other used rubberised products to become a crumble/composite that is used in roadbases and sports surfaces. They are unfortunately unable to be reconstituted into silicone for continued use.
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