ON YOUR PLATE – SPRING 2008
Microwave Safe and Chemical Free
By Dan Singleton, Public Health Inspector
A
ARE YOU REUSING margarine containers for microwave reheating? Better
check the label! Glass, ceramics and all plastics (including plastic wraps)
should be labeled as “microwave safe”.
Why?
• Unlabeled glass and ceramics can overheat and crack.
• Containers without a microwave safe label have not been evaluated by Health
Canada regarding their chemical safety for food storage and heating
• Heating plastics can allow chemicals to move out of the plastic and
into the food. This is especially a problem with fatty foods, which
help dissolve these chemicals more easily into the food.
Even “microwave safe” plastic wrap shouldn’t touch the food during
heating as it may melt and release chemicals. Styrofoam should never
be used in the microwave as manufacturers don’t evaluate it for this
purpose and it is not heat stable.
So, be cautious when using plastic in the microwave. If the original contents of the container were
cold, chances are the container was never meant to be heated and is unsuitable for microwave use.
(Source: Health Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency & USDA Food Safety & Inspection Services)
Community Food
Security Workshop
HOSTED BY THE PERTH DISTRICT HEALTH UNIT
& ONTARIO HEALTHY COMMUNITIES COALITION
The goal of the workshop is to raise awareness of issues
relating to adequate access to nutritious foods .
Come see what role you can play!
Friday, April 11, 2008, 9:30 am - 3 pm
Perth District Health Unit
653 West Gore St., Stratford
Registation Fee: $15.00
(includes lunch, refreshments and workshop material)
For more information or to register, contact
519-271-7600 ext 766.
Listowel area call 1-877-271-7348 ext 766.
Or visit www.pdhu.on.ca and go
to “Coming Events”
s
i
t
u
p
n
I
r
u
“Yo
”
s
u
o
t
t
n
a
t
Impor
tions
s or sugges
nt
your comme input is
t
i
m
ub
s
e
. Your
Pleas
ety issues an pr ovide you with
f
a
s
d
o
o
f
c
on
so that we
Dr op us a
necessary tion you ne ed most. concerns
a
,
the inform lcome your comments
e
line. W e w .
s
or question
Unit
ct Health
ri
t
s
i
D
h
Pert
4
Singleton
ON N5A 1L
Attn: Dan or e St., Stratfor d,
G
653 W est 0 ext 318
18
0
348 ext 3
6
7
7
117
7
2
2
7
7
19
8
5
r ea call 1Listowel a [email protected]
ng
Email: dsi
Perth District Health Unit • 653 West Gore Street • Stratford • Ontario • N5A 1L4 • 519-271-7600 • www.pdhu.on.ca