According to data from the Food Safety Authority, food which comes into contact with aluminum foil or containers may contain small traces of this metal. In very recent studies, it has also been discovered that heat is responsible for the passage of aluminum particles in food. The higher the temperature, the greater the absorption of the metal by the food is.
In this study, we checked the aluminum levels of certain foods after cooking, reheating or storage in aluminum foil. And quantities of this metal dangerous for health are present. The American University of Sharjah and the Abu Dhabi Institute of Petroleum, located in the United Arab Emirates, have revealed that aluminum penetrates acidic foods and plants such as tomatoes, spices, vinegar, quite easily citrus or salt. The best that you can make with the aluminum foil container machine now.
Medium and long term health problems
When entering the body, aluminum gets lodged in the tissues of the body. And it can accumulate dangerously in some of them, especially in bone tissue. A doubt exists for pregnant women because aluminum could theoretically pass into the placenta and then it could enter the brain of the fetus.
In other hypotheses, it has been suggested that the accumulation of this metal could be linked to Alzheimer’s disease. As well as with certain types of cancer, and also cause infertility. However, there is currently no scientific evidence to definitively confirm the dangerousness of aluminum foil.
The Agency for the Registry of Toxic Substances and Diseases (ATSDR in English) ensures that we are all exposed to low levels of aluminum. Whether in the air, in the water, in the earth and in the food we eat. But only high exposure can cause toxicity and disease problems.
Environmental pollution
The aluminum foil industry is one of the most polluting in the world, because of the negative environmental impact it generates. Aluminum is a metal that comes from mineral called bauxite, the extraction process of which causes rivers to deteriorate. As if that weren’t enough, making aluminum foil is extremely energy intensive.
Tips to reduce the danger of aluminum foil?
Aluminum foil can be used on both sides. Because the difference in color between the two sides of the paper results only from its manufacturing process. You should avoid using aluminum foil to wrap acidic foods, such as tomatoes, and all their derivatives. Instead of aluminum foil, you can use film foil.
We often use aluminum foil in our oven so as not to dirty our plates or our dishes. You should avoid doing this because it prevents the equal distribution of heat. And it can also affect the way your appliance works.
Do not use aluminum foil to keep food in the refrigerator.
Instead of using aluminum foil, opt for other solutions such as parchment paper. The best way to keep food warm is to use glass containers. Remember that not all of these warnings about the dangerousness of aluminum foil in the kitchen are backed up by undeniable scientific evidence.
The difference in color between the two sides of aluminum foil is due to its manufacturing process, which leaves one side brighter than the other. For decades, aluminum foil has been used in kitchens around the world, thanks to its versatility and the use that can be made of it.