Why You Should Never Use Plastic Kitchen Utensils, According to a Doctor - Newsweek

A doctor has warned about the dangers of using plastic cooking utensils, which can lead to neurological damage, cancer risks and other health problems.

Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist who was trained at Harvard and Stanford universities, flagged some of the serious health risks in a video posted on his Instagram account, @doctor.sethi. The clip has received 231,000 views since it was shared this past Sunday.

The doctor says in the video: "Here is why I never use plastic kitchen utensils. Research shows that many plastic cooking utensils contain harmful brominated flame retardants, which are known endocrine disrupters, as well as harmful heavy metals like antimony [a chemical element] and lead."

Brominated flame retardants are man-made chemicals used in various products, including plastics, textiles and electrical/electronic equipment, to make them less flammable. The body's endocrine system is made up of tissues that create and release hormones to maintain different body functions, from metabolism to reproduction.

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Plastic chemicals cost the U.S. health care system $249 billion in 2018 alone, according to a January study in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

The study warned: "Plastics contribute substantially to disease and associated social costs in the United States, accounting for 1.22 percent of the gross domestic product. The costs of plastic pollution will continue to accumulate as long as exposures continue at current levels."

Sethi told Newsweek: "Brominated flame retardants can accumulate in the body and disrupt hormones, potentially leading to thyroid issues, neurological damage and cancer risks."

As "endocrine disruptors," brominated flame retardants interfere with hormone regulation, which can affect reproductive health, metabolism and brain development, the doctor said.

Ingesting heavy metals like antimony and lead "can cause toxicity, leading to neurological damage, organ dysfunction and developmental issues, especially in children," Sethi said.

When you cook with plastic utensils, these harmful chemicals can end up in your food and your body.

"Plastic utensils are most dangerous when exposed to heat, as chemicals can leach into food. It's best to avoid using plastic when cooking at high temperatures," Sethi said, adding that even "melt-free" plastic utensils can release harmful chemicals under heat.

If the edges of your plastic utensils have begun to melt, "it means that these harmful chemicals have already degraded into the food," he said. So replace your plastic utensils with a new wooden or metal set, he advises.

"Opting for materials like stainless steel or silicone is safer for high-temperature cooking," the doctor said.

Do you have a health-related dilemma or question? Let us know via [email protected]. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured in Newsweek.

Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in travel and health.

Soo covered the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022, including interviews with chief medical advisor to the president, Dr. Anthony Fauci. Soo has reported on various major events, including the Black Lives Matter movement, the U.S. and Canadian elections, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Before Newsweek, Soo was a travel reporter and commissioning editor for the award-winning travel section of the Daily Telegraph (a leading U.K. national newspaper) for nearly a decade from 2010, reporting on the latest in the travel industry, from travel news, consumer travel and aviation issues to major new openings and emerging destinations.

Soo is also a South Korea expert, from the latest K-dramas including Squid Game, Korean films and K-pop news to interviews with the biggest Korean actors. Soo is the author of the book How to Live Korean, which is available in 11 languages, and co-author of the book Hello, South Korea: Meet the Country Behind Hallyu.

Soo is a graduate of Binghamton University in New York and the journalism school of City University in London, where she earned a Masters in international journalism.

Languages spoken: English and Korean.

Follow her on Instagram at @miss.soo.kim or X, formerly Twitter, at @MissSooKim

Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in travel and health.

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