Styrofoam

Dangers of Expanded Polystyrene (aka Styrofoam)

Since conventional plastics are made of chemicals, it comes as no surprise that there has been much debate over the harms of eating out of plastic containers. In fact, many studies have been made and there are concrete evidences that it is indeed harmful to eat food from plastic containers, particularly, polystyrene foam commonly referred to as Styrofoam. Other conventional plastics appear less hazardous but have been speculated to cause various cancers and damage to the reproductive system with long term exposure.

As a precaution:

• Avoid hot food and drinks in Styrofoam containers.
• Never microwave your food in Styrofoam containers.
• Never microwave your food in plastic containers unless it is stated to be microwaveable.

When analysing the negative impact brought by disposable foamed plastic utensil, Beijing City Consumer Union clearly indicated: disposable foamed plastic utensils “at temperatures higher than 65 Celsius has its hazardous substance infiltrating into the food, causing damage to human’s liver, kidneys, reproductive system and central nerve system.”