Why Aluminium Foil Is Not Safe for Cooking or Storage

Summary: Aluminium foils, wraps, or containers are not without their share of perils.

Packing cooked food in aluminium foil, ordering take-out that comes in aluminium containers or even storing leftover food in aluminium wraps is preferred by many. It is an easy, convenient and neat way to store food.
Did you know that it is not without its perils?

The studies and research

According to a study published in the Food Bioscience journal in December 2024, fish roasted in aluminium foil carry unsafe levels of metals. Metals from the aluminium foils leached into the Clarias gariepinus muscles of the fish, making it harmful to eat.
According to another study, the aluminium content in baked food (Atlantic salmon, salmo salar, mackerel Scomber scombrus, duck breasts, cheese hermelin, tomato, paprika, Carlsbad dumplings, pork roast, pork neck, chicken breasts, and chicken thighs showed a 40% increase in aluminium content.

Doctor cautions

According to doctors, aluminium reacts with the salty and acidic foods like tomatoes, lemons, vinegar, pickles and spice-laden gravies. When hot-cooked food is stored in these aluminium foils or containers, a part of the aluminium gets mixed in the food.

Prolonged excess aluminium intake could lead to bone issues, kidney strains, nerve-related issues, as the body is unable to easily remove the aluminium.
Use of thin, damaged or scratched aluminium containers increases the amount of leaching.
Wrapping piping hot food directly in aluminium foil and containers can also increase aluminium exposure.

The doctor recommends tips

Doctors recommend certain tips that can be handy for storing food.

Try to avoid using aluminium foil and wraps on containers.
Do not wrap acidic, salty and spicy foods in aluminium foil.
Do not cook acidic, salty and spicy foods in aluminium foil.
Store cooked food in steel, ceramic or glass containers
Use butter paper or baking paper between the aluminium foil and the food to avoid direct contact of the food with the aluminium foil.
Do not reuse disposable aluminium containers.
Do not cook in aluminium foil at very high temperatures.
Choose safety over social media trends that involve the use of aluminium foil, wraps and containers.
Practice healthy food storage options.
Choose health

Conclusion

This is certainly an eye-opener. We are unknowingly harming our health. In the olden days, there were no such fancy aluminium foil, wraps or containers. If our grandmothers and great-grandmothers could make do without these aluminium products, so can we.

Today, the main focus is on health and wellness. Let us be a bit more mindful of our cooking and storing food habits. Let us consciously make an effort to protect our health and the health of our family. Let us minimise or remove all use of such aluminium foil, wraps or containers.

Source: Inputs from various media Sources