Nope silicone or wood here.

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/cooking 

Cooking Forum

My favorite flipper is an OXO black plastic lasagne turner. I like it because it is short, and it gives me more control. I am so sad. Any ideas for replacements? I have some Calphalon non-stick frying pans that I use for eggs, and I have been unable to find recommendations. Plus my Weber electric grill suggests not using metal flippers. Thanks.

I am not all that clear on this black plastic thang. I guess the article is discussing (topic includes) those flexible black plastic-nylon like utensils I’ve been using for years. I also have some whilte - ivory colored ones. Luck Amylou has pink ;)

I don’t use mine all that often, …. still.

Thanks, floralUK, but I think that Houzz fixed things and I do not seem to be able to include the Cooking Forum as a recipient when I am creating and publishing a new topic.

That is, when I first go to SUBMIT, the Cooking forum is no longer on the list. I do not want to post a separate thread. Perhaps I will just post a link to this thread. That forum does not appear to get a lot of traffic.

Oh, great! Thanks for the information though.

I don't have any all-black, all-plastic utensils. My favorite flipper is a 60-year-old Ecko metal-handle tool with a black flat surface that feels like a treated cardboard material. I like it because the end is tapered to slip under the food.

Our recycling won't take black plastic containers from frozen entrees, even though they are marked "6".

Rachael Ray was using wood pancake flippers....so yeah...I purchased a couple. They're nice!

Link

" All mine are pink, so all good here. :

It's what the utensils are made of, not the color. Check to be better informed. Or don't.

We keep food out of contact with plastic. And have for a long time. Nothing made of plastic - no utensils or cookware, no liquid pitchers or storage containers, no tableware, plates or bowls, nada.

I saw this article a few days ago. All of my utensils are black and old. My stirring spoons are from Tupperware, which shocked me as I vaguely recall going to a Tupperware party around 1980. The spatulas are Calphalon and twenty-five years old. So I don't think they have recycled flame-retardants in them as recycling wasn't as available then.

No, but they have plastic in them and chemicals from plastic were shown long ago to leach into food. Especially when the food is hot or acidic and the contact is more than just for a minute or two.

Do you prefer to buy organic food when you have a choice? Minimally processed food? If so, sticking with what you describe contradicts other choices you make to exercise care in what you ingest.

Would you keep them to be stubborn or to prove a point to yourself? There's a better decision but it's up to you.

We have clear acrylic drinking glasses that we use for the pool area, but otherwise we do not use plastic utensils either, unless silicon is considered plastic. I do use plastic storage containers, however, as well as Ziplock bags and Foodsaver bags.

I have a black plastic spatula that I use on my Calphalon nonstick skillets. Hmmm

Silicone (not silicon, what semiconductor chips and solar cells are made of) is a better choice than plastic for contact with heated or acidic food items.

Wood, glass, metals, silicone and the like care considered relatively inert and safe for food contact.

Can I assume that everyone could access the entire article?

I strongly suggest that when discarding these inadvertently but widely contaminated items, you put them into the TRASH bin, and do not Recycle them (thereby perpetuating the problem.

Note that there are about six (6) or so ”Related Articles” with similar interesting information.

I’m not sure what sort of sushi trays the authors are referring to. And I am also not clear on the common grocery store meat packaging. A lot of those I see (for chicken, ground beef and the like) are trays made from polystyrene foam.

Related articles.

➡️ https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/11/health/tampons-lead-arsenic-plastics-wellness/index.html

➡️ https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/23/health/plastics-in-brain-wellness/index.html

➡️ https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/01/health/flame-retardant-pbdes-cancer-wellness/index.html

➡️ https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/19/health/microplastics-human-penises-study-scli-intl-scn-wellness/index.html

🔸^^^ Well, my my! ^^^

➡️ https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/10/health/pfas-water-filters-food-wellness/index.html

➡️ https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/22/health/plastics-food-wellness-scn/index.html

Our recycling department tells us not to put black plastic deli containers in the recycling bin bur we didn’t ask why not. I guess we should! I do use them, though, I guess I won’t use them for food any more. The clear lids go under detergent bottles and things that tend to drip. We have used the black trays and clear lids to hold stuff.

I had given a whole bunch (accumulated from my parents’ and my kitchens) to a crisis drop-in, they use them to give food to clients. I suppose they will have to stop, and use something else, but of course they always have limited resources.

But wait, the meat, produce, and sushi trays are kind of a foam-like material. So are the black plastic deli containers okay?

And what are OXO made out of?

Sushi tray — looks like it’s the same sort of recycled plastic that is so widespread. see article.

Fair use for discussion purposes

Black-colored plastic used for kitchen utensils and toys linked to banned toxic flame retardants

Updated 8:34 AM EDT October 1, 2024

Black-colored 🔸plastic used in children’s toys, takeout containers, kitchen utensils and grocery meat and produce trays may contain alarming levels of toxic flame retardants that may be leaching from electronic products during recycling, a new study found.

“A product with one of the highest levels of flame retardants were black plastic pirate coin beads that kids wear — they resemble Mardi Gras beads but more for costume wear,” said lead study author Megan Liu, science and policy manager for Toxic-Free Future, an environmental advocacy group.

“That particular product had up to 22,800 parts per million of total flame retardants — that’s almost 3% by weight,” Liu said. “Kids will often play with toys multiple days in a row until they tire of them.”

The most hazardous flame retardants the study found in consumer products are the same used in electronic enclosures on televisions and other electronics, Liu said.

“It appears the plastics used to make the consumer products were contaminated with flame retardants due to mistakes in the recycling of electronic waste,” she said.

One consumer product, a black plastic sushi tray, contained 11,900 parts per million of the flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ether, or decaBDE for short. That chemical is a member of the polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDE, class of flame retardants.

P eople with the highest blood levels of PBDEs were approximately 300% more likely to die from cancer as people with the lowest levels, according to an April 2024 study.

RELATED ARTICLE

DecaBDE was fully banned in 2021 by the US Environmental Protection Agency after being linked to cancer, endocrine and thyroid issues, fetal and child development and neurobehavioral function and reproductive and immune system toxicity.

🔸Despite those restrictions, decaBDE was found in 70% of the samples tested, at levels ranging from five to 1,200 times greater than the European Union’s limit of 10 parts per million, Liu said.

Based on exposure to contaminated black plastic kitchen utensils such as spatulas and slotted spoons, study researchers estimated a person could be exposed to an average of 34.7 parts per million of decaBDE each day.

🔸“It was especially concerning that they found retardants that aren’t supposed to be used anymore,” said toxicologist Linda Birnbaum, former director of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program.

“I would recommend not using black plastic for food contact materials or buying toys with black plastic pieces,” said Birnbaum, who was not involved in the study.

Electronics with flame retardants

E lectronic devices that use flame retardants as a way to prevent fires are common in homes in the United States, according to the American Chemistry Council’s website: “The average home contains more than 20 electronic products, including televisions, smartphones, computers, gaming systems and tablets. These devices are embedded into our everyday lives, yet they could pose additional safety risks if it weren’t for flame retardants.”

RELATED ARTICLE

Manufacturers also use flame retardants in sofas, loveseats, recliners, office chairs, car upholstery, infant car seats, carpet padding, foam-padded yoga mats and padded baby items. From there, flame retardants can “leach from products into the air and then attach to dust, food, and water, which can be ingested,” according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

The North American Flame Retardant Alliance, which represents makers and users of flame resistant chemicals, told CNN the new study does not account for actual levels of exposures in humans or any exposure pathways.

“The use of flame retardants in electronics and appliances has been instrumental in reducing fire-related injuries and fatalities and preventing the destruction of property,” Erich Shea, NAFRA’s director of product communications, said in an email.

“ Recycling plastics from electronic waste is a critical component of a circular economy, helping to conserve resources and reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste,” Shea said.

RELATED ARTICLE

Birnbaum told CNN that it’s well known that 🔸plastics which may contain or be exposed to dangerous chemicals should not be recycled.

“The novel concern that’s raised in this study is ‘Look, black plastic that shouldn’t be recycled is ending up in all kinds of products that lead to human exposure,’” she said.

🔸No safe level of some flame retardants

The study, published Tuesday in the journal Chemosphere, was conducted by Toxic-Free and the Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment at Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. 🔸The study only looked at black plastics, and therefore could not determine if other colors of plastics could also be exposed, Liu said. Nor did researchers name any brand names of the products that were tested.🔸

“ There have been previous studies done in other countries where they’ve seen the same issue of black plastic being contaminated with flame retardants, as well as studies which show flame retardants can leach from kitchen utensils into food and into children’s saliva through the mouthing of toys,” Liu said.

RELATED ARTICLE

“Studies specifically looking at food contact materials in the US, however, hadn’t been done,” Liu said. “That’s why we are really interested in testing toys as well as food contact materials like kitchen or food service wear items.”

Researchers examined 203 consumer products for bromine, a key indicator of the use of flame retardants, and then more closely examined 20 products with the highest levels.

Brominated flame retardants are particularly concerning due to their toxicity and tendency to 🔸bioaccumulate, or remain within the body for years, said Dr. Leonardo Trasande, a professor of pediatrics and population health at NYU Langone Health in New York City.

“I’m not aware of any safe level of brominated flame retardants,” said Trasande, who was not involved with the new study. Trasande was the lead author of a paper which found that flame retardants cost the US health care system $159 billion in 2018 alone.

🔸🔸What consumers can do

E xperts say there are ways that consumers can reduce their risk from flame retardants.

RELATED ARTICLE

“Replace your plastic kitchen utensils with stainless steel options or choose plastic free items to help reduce your overall exposure to harmful additives and plastic,” Liu said. “Some manufacturers also have strong policies about removing retardants from their products, so you can also be a careful shopper.”

Dusting, mopping and vacuuming regularly will remove dust that is likely contaminated with plastics and other worrisome chemicals in addition to flame retardants, Liu said. Frequent hand washing and proper ventilation can help as well.

“Many people wash and reuse the black plastic containers their food comes in,” Birnbaum said. “I tell people to immediately take the food out of that black plastic and put it in a glass, stainless steel or ceramic dish.”

Don’t microwave or otherwise heat black plastic containers with food, as heat encourages chemicals to leach out into the food that it is in contact with, Birnbaum added.

W hile these steps will cut down on exposure there’s only so much that consumers can do, Liu said.

RELATED ARTICLE

“What our study shows is that when harmful chemicals like flame retardants are allowed to be intentionally used in products like televisions and other electronics, they can be recycled and unintentionally contaminate other products downstream,” Liu said.

“We need government and corporate policies that restrict the use of these harmful chemicals like flame retardants and hazardous plastics so that we can safely recycle items without worrying about chemical contamination and our health.”

© 2024 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.

Black-colored plastic used for kitchen utensils and toys linked to banned toxic flame retardants
Black plastics from electronic devices may be leaching toxic flame retardants into our food and homes, a new study has found.

Read in CNN: https://apple.news/AsLxcmRWxRdq72-aDY8Z5Dw

Shared from Apple News

Thank you for this information.

Everything in our life is plastic now. So hard to move away from it. However, I'm old enough to remember when plastic was not around. Sometimes I try to remember what my mother used in place of it.

Paper bags, wax paper, aluminum foil.

It bothers me that all the stores wrap their meats and seafood in plastic. Including Whole Foods.

Good info,

Jane

Thanks for the info, petalique.

I'm guessing many more people may be exposed through takeout and microwable containers than cooking utensils.

All the studies in the world won't save me from creating my own toxic environment. Last night I was distracted when putting two plates of leftover chicken into the oven to warm. I was going to give them a final blast in the microwave before serving, so I put plastic 'splatter shields' on the plates. I have done this a thousand times. THIS time I failed to reset the oven from its default 350 to 170 degrees.

When I realized and opened the oven door...the plastic domes had completely melted onto the plates and down over the oven rack to the oven floor. PHEW!

Early signs of senility?

oh! but i betyou have ”company.”

" people may be exposed through .......microwable containers "

The last place you should want hot food in contact with plastic is in a microwave oven.

If you must "cook" in a microwave oven, remove the food from the plastic container, put it into something made of glass or ceramic, and then carry on. We don't like the end result of microwaved food and don't use it for cooking. Defrosting and warming, yes.

Certainly puts coffee makers in a whole new light.

tj

" Certainly puts coffee makers in a whole new light. "

Coffee produced using boiling water that contacted plastic is also not something I want to have.

We switched to using ceramic pour-over coffee cones long ago.

Hario 01 for small cups, 02 for large cups or small serving glass pots. Cones and paper filters are available on Amazon and elsewhere. They make great coffee but for those who prefer great coffee, you likely already know that that doesn't come from pressing a button and walking away. Prep is a hands-on task.

Chemex glass pour-over carafes are also very good. Same idea though, the preparation is very much a manual affair. Both are worth the effort.

PS - Hario also make metal stovetop water kettles and an electric one, the V60 Buono. Both with slow pouring gooseneck spouts, essential for making pour-over drip coffee. The kettles are also available from Amazon and elsewhere.

Our recycling department tells us not to put black plastic deli containers in the recycling bin bur we didn’t ask why not.

Nothing to do with toxicity.

"One of the most commonly-used pigments for dying packaging black, carbon black isn't recognized by the near-infrared scanners used for sorting recyclables. They don't “see” carbon black, so the plastic isn't sorted."

Other than the cheapest dollar store stuff most black cooking utensils are made of nylon. Yes it's a type of plastic but the article doesn't address that not all "plastics" are created equal. Because most plastic has a low melting point. Nylon has a higher melting point. So tossing everything black in the household is insane. Your OXO turner is not going to leach into your grilled cheese unless you grill your sandwiches at searing temps. Everyone rushing to clear their house of perfectly good black items is just going to unnecessarily add to the landfills. Common sense has gone out the window with inept journalism filled with half truths today.

Here's a little known factoid. If you have a nickel allergy, stainless could be harmful to you also. Before anyone panics the leaching is minimal but good stainless has nickel. The lower the nickel content the higher the chance of rust and corrosion. So choose your poison.

To put your comments in context, what kind of equipment do you use to make coffee in your house? And, to cook in your microwave?

Seems like only yesterday that I purged my kitchen of all aluminum.

I'm sure I'm already loaded with plastics. Heck, I sleep with my teeth grinding into a plastic nightguard. If I was young, I might be concerned. But I've already had 68 years of plastics and I'm just going to roll the dice on this one.

Microplastics have been found inside deep caves. I think we hit the point of no return long ago.

And we definitely do not need anyone making things worse.

" To put your comments in context, what kind of equipment do you use to make coffee in your house? And, to cook in your microwave? "

There was no response to this question so I think that suggests what this person's attitudes are. Which, to me, discount the usefulness of her comments.

Another reason not to cook. westy

HU, I’m with you! Except, nothing but raw food would get tiring after awhile. It’s not like I can let someone else do the cooking, restaurant etc., who knows what they are using?

Well I guess I'll be living on the edge again. I'm about to go camping. I like to cook for myself. So I'll be using the nylon utensils that we brought almost 50 years ago for our camping kit. They're sky blue so pretty sure they aren't made from recycled products. OMG! They still look new after all these years of use. Probably have BPA. Pick your poison.

Before I go out and buy anything, are silicone utensils okay? Even they are black. I was looking at the OXO ones.

Deleted my comment. Good point, bp.

On the shelves at Walmart and other stores, what looks like black plastic is labeled "nylon." Is that the same/also dangerous?

I don’t know the answet to that, but I’d assume the nylon ones are what they’re referring to. I haven’t been thrilled with any of the nylon ones I have as they don’t stand up well to higher heat. Which, in fairness, they’re not designed for.

My favorite spatula is an old Calphalon, yes probably nylon but it’s held up well. Perfect size and feel that I’ve found nowhere else, including their newer products.

But this thread put my quest in the forefront again, and conveniently the NYT just published a Wirecutter on spatulas which led me to GIR products. I’ve ordered a fiberglass cored silicone spatula, rated to 550°. The size looks perfect for me; I’d prefer it not to be angled but I’ll adjust if the rest works for me.

If I like it I’ll order one of their cookware sets. If I’m reading it correctly, the sets are their non-ultimate ones don’t have the fiberglass core, but I don’t expect that to matter for most uses.

https://a.co/d/1jniYM6

I’ve been trying to move away from plastic in general, using mason jars more than deli cups, etc. I do have a lot of black stuff which I’ll mostly dispose of if I find a good replacement.

Anyone have any favorite NESTING, lidded, glass containers to recommend?

We have a number of silicone implements and find they work well. One interesting item that we have several of, that I think I learned of either from somewhere like Cooks Illustrated or maybe the NY Times, is called a spoonula. It's a cross between a flat-bowled spoon and a spatula with a straight edge. Perfect for making things in a pot - soup, stew, chili. You stir with it and then when you want to pull out a small sample to put on a plate or into a tasting spoon, you use the shallow depression to do so.

Also good for sauteing because of the tip and side straight edges. You can scrape the bottom when cooking, and then scrape the sides to pull off the fond when liquid is added.

My spoonula is wooden handled so I only use it when I specifically want it. One-piece seamless design is much preferred. I'll get that if I'm hapoy with this trial.

This past year when I bought my wok I bought several sets of silicone and of wood implements and I am happy with them. My favorite spatula which I have had for years is stainless. I also bought a bunch of new canning jars, and the 1/2 pint and pint sizes are good for refrigerator storage.

Kitchen utensils.....stainless steel only.

My spoonula may be my favorite baking tool. It's just right for scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl and transferring the batter out of the bowl and into the pan,

I've been obsessing over this topic for days now, and I am going to order an all-silicone turner from Sur La Table. There was a nice one from Staub as well.

My new silicone spatula might end up being good for some things, but clearly won’t be my go-to for every need.

(The meat is still partially frozen, no problem breaking through it with my old Calphalon.)

I don't get it. Is it "L" shaped or bending under pressure of being pushed?

Why not defrost the meat before cooking it?

I said "Goodbye" to my favorite Oxo black nylon turner today. It wasn't easy. I replaced it with a silicone Oxo turner, but while looking for a replacement, I was surprised to find that most of what was out there was still black nylon. Am I not correct in believing that nylon utensils contain the same toxic ingredients?