Cancer Risks Found in These Popular Utensils
What is life without food? The ingredients, the method of cooking, the kitchenware and the crockery all work together towards gastronomical satisfaction.Â
Did you know that not all kitchenware is safe? Some of the utensils we use can prove to be a health hazard. Some kitchenware, when heated, releases harmful chemicals, while some do so after prolonged usage. These chemicals are unknowingly ingested by us and lead to hazardous health hazards in the long run.Â
According to experts, three kinds of kitchenware pose potential cancer hazards and should be replaced with healthier options.
Say No to Aluminium
We should avoid the use of aluminium in kitchenware. Be it cooking utensils or foils for wraps, aluminium is their core ingredient. According to studies, cooking in aluminium utensils releases 1-2 mg of the metal into the food that we consume. This may lead to elevated toxic levels in our body, giving rise to cellular changes that lead to the growth of cancer cells in the body. Â
Non-Stick Utensils with Teflon Coating
We keep our utensils clean and often use aluminium scrubbers to get rid of that dried residue. The use of aluminium scrubbers peels off the chemical layer on the non-stick cookware and releases the chemical into the food being cooked. Cooking food in these Teflon-coated non-stick utensils, at high temperatures, causes damaging fumes to be released in the food. This may cause Polymer Fume Fever or Teflon Flu, the symptoms of which are fever, headache and chills.Â
Plastic Utensils
We often save those plastic containers from take-out, using them for storage. These plastic containers, especially black plastic ones, contain noxious chemicals known as flame retardants, which make them more resistant to fire. Heating the food in these containers releases the chemicals in the food that harm the endocrine, reproductive and neurobiological systems, and also elevate cancer risks.
Alternative Kitchenware That Is Safe to Use
We should use kitchen utensils made of brass, cast iron and iron woks (cooking pans) for cooking. Clay utensils can also be used as alternatives.
Conclusion
Agreed that some of these modern kitchenwares are easy to clean and maintain, but at what cost? Why continue to cook in a non-stick pan that is chipping? Why use plastic containers when we are aware of the risks of microplastics? Why use aluminium foil for packing food? There is no dearth of alternatives that are safe to use and easily available.Â
Awareness is essential, and it is you who has to take the first step and throw away these harmful, hazardous kitchenware.
Cook safe, eat safe and be safe.Â
Inputs from various media sources.
- Health News and Updates
- 30 August 2025
- 07:00
