Why is aluminum food foil dangerous?

In almost every home you can find a roll of aluminum foil
. But not everyone knows that it is not suitable for all products. Improper use of food foil can have a detrimental effect on your health. Let’s show you why aluminum food foil is dangerous.

Aluminum foil is ideal for food packaging. It is much easier to use and retains the temperature of the product better than plastic film, which constantly sticks together. But many people still don’t want to wrap food in foil. It is considered to be hazardous to health. Let’s find out if this is really true?

Why is aluminum food foil dangerous?

Aluminum foil
made of aluminum – the metal most often found in the bowels of the earth. Mostly people use it for manufacturing. It can even be found in drinking water, medicines, cosmetics, deodorants or food packaging (such as aluminum cans).

There is a theory that light metals provoke the development of Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer. Officially, there is no scientific evidence for this. However, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment advises reducing the use of items that contain aluminum and encourages people to avoid deodorants that contain aluminum.

What foods can be stored in aluminum foil?

The Consumer Protection Society also advises against using aluminum food foil to avoid exposure to the damaging effects of metals accumulated in the body. In addition, not all foods can be stored in aluminum foil for a long time. It is better to wrap food in newspapers or thin paper
.

“Neither salts nor acidic foods should be wrapped in foil,” says Silke Schwartau, a member of the consumer society in Hamburg.

It’s also best to avoid processed cheese in foil.

Salt or acid can cause aluminum ions to transfer from aluminum foil to food.

“The longer the contact, the more aluminum ions enter the food,” says the Bavarian consumer rights society.

This is why applesauce, apple slices, tomato sauce, rhubarb, pieces of pickled herring and pickles should not be stored in foil. And under no circumstances should you keep fish in aluminum containers.

“Same with grilling, beware of salt and acid,” warns Schwartau.

The Federal Service for Environmental Supervision also advises not to use aluminum dishes or food foil when storing tomatoes and cheese in brine. As for meat, a natural casing (for example, a crispy crust formed after frying) is better.

How safe are aluminum cans in stores?

In stores, jars of tomato sauce, plastic yoghurt cups or cardboard juice boxes (such as TetraPak), on the other hand, should not cause concern. In such containers, a layer of aluminum film is covered with another layer of plastic.

It should be noted that risk of aluminum poisoning
not so high: this metal can enter the human body only in small quantities. Moreover, in a healthy body, it easily dissolves and partially settles in the kidneys. This is known from statistics from the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.

Aluminum mainly accumulates in the lungs and bones. According to Schwartau, consumers should be extremely careful and use products containing aluminum as little as possible.

What is the safe concentration of aluminum in the human body?

The European Food Safety Authority’s guideline is that the maximum permissible concentration of aluminum per week for humans is 1 mg per kilogram of body weight. However, how much aluminum each person actually receives is not known with certainty, since it mainly depends on his eating habits. In this regard, the following standards have been established – no more than 0.2 – 1.5 mg of aluminum per kilogram of body weight per week.

To protect yourself from exposure to aluminum
Schwartau recommends storing food in paper, bowls or pots, instead of wrapping them in food foil. Additionally, he suggests: “Manufacturers of aluminum foil and aluminum foil packaging should provide clear warning labels about the hazards of the material. It is their responsibility to do so.”

An alternative to aluminum food foil is wrapping paper

Wrapping paper
or, as it is fashionable to say, kraft paper is an excellent alternative to food foil.

You can wrap fish or meat in such thick paper and successfully store it in the refrigerator. Several layers of this paper keep food warm while traveling. This natural material is a renewable and degradable resource and allows air to flow freely without suffocating food. For baking food, baking paper can serve as a substitute for aluminum food foil.

As you can see, we can help preserve nature even in everyday small things by buying paper instead of foil. Take care of our Planet, because it takes care of you.

We hope that you have figured out why aluminum food foil is dangerous and what paper can serve as a replacement for it. Take care of yourself and be healthy!