If you often order food online from platforms, you’ve likely received it in black plastic containers. Many people find it convenient to save and reuse these containers over and over again.
Recently, however, a debate has sparked online about whether these containers are safe to use at all. The concern stems from the fact that these containers are made from ‘black plastic’, a material that is more prevalent in our daily lives than you might realise.
In a recent study published in the scientific journal of Chemosphere 203 black plastic consumer products were analysed. It found toxic flame-retardant chemicals in 85 per cent of these products.
Experts also cautioned against the use of black plastic as much as possible. For instance, according to Dr Aravind Badiger, technical director at BDR Pharmaceuticals, black plastic utensils and containers are associated with cancer risks due to their content of toxic flame retardants. These chemicals are known to migrate into food, causing harm over time. “DecaBDE and similar compounds are ‘suspected carcinogens and endocrine disruptors’, which can interfere with hormonal systems and potentially lead to cancer,” he says.
Dr Sachin Trivedi, the director of medical oncology at HCG Cancer Center, agrees and adds that black plastic often contains substances like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which are linked to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and reproductive issues.
