Saturday, May 31, 2014

June- Ban Unsafe Kitchen Products

 Kitchen products might seem safe, but there are hidden dangers lurking in your food as well as in the cookware you use to prepare your food with. From aluminum to bromine, your kitchen could be stock full of dangerous chemicals without you even knowing! In this article and over this month, I'll help you clean up your cookware as well as your pantry. We'll start things off with pots, pans, and utensils.


What pots and pans should be avoided? 
  •  Enamel and porcelain enamel cookware- Enamel cookware is best avoided because the older version can have cadmium and lead contained in their paint, chances are that the cheaper pots still do have that in them. Porcelain enamel is even more dangerous because it is coated with glass only on the outside while the metal shows on the inside. This is bad when that metal is aluminum. Aluminum disturbs brain function and can cause Alzheimer's, as well as numerous other problems! As long as you buy high quality enamel, and make sure the metal isn't aluminum, enamelware can be perfectly safe.    
  • Aluminum- I strongly urge against using aluminum. As I mentioned above aluminum has many ill health effects, some of them fairly serious. Aluminum targets your nervous system and harm you in many ways. Read this article on aluminum to find out more on the health effects of aluminum. 
  • Stainless steel- Though not all stainless steel is bad, stainless steel often has to have an inner coating of either aluminum or copper to distribute heat evenly. Just pay attention when purchasing stainless steel pots or pans. 
  • Non-stick pans- If you haven't read my February ban, you probably aren't familiar with what dangerous chemical is found in non-stick pans. Check it out here.
Safe pots and pans to use. 
  • Cast iron- Cast iron can come coated with enamel or without. If you chose to get it without the enamel, it is a bit more work to maintain.   


Are there any dangers with food storage?
  • Plastic wrap- If you place plastic wrap on hot food or microwave food with it, there is a high probability dangerous chemicals are leaching into your food. Find out more here. 
  • Aluminum foil- As I keep reiterating, aluminum is a dangerous metal and is best avoided!

Safe alternatives
  • Waxed paper- Though you can't cook with this product, it is a much more environmentally friendly alternative for storing food if you buy the waxed paper bags.


What could possibly be wrong with flour?
  • Bleached flour- Commercial companies often add bleach to their flour because when flour is first ground it is slightly yellow. Some chemicals used to bleach flour include: benzoyl peroxide, calcium peroxide, nitrogen dioxide, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and azodicarbonamide.  
  • Bromated flour- Bromate is a suspected cancer causing compound, so why is it added to our flour? Bromate not only bleaches dough but increases its elasticity. It was believed that after baking, when bromine became potassium bromate, that it was safe to eat. But studies conducted in Japan in 1982, showed that potassium bromate causes cancer in the thyroid, kidneys, and other places in rats and mice. Though bromate is banned around the world the USDA held back, and it is still found today in some flours and in fast food breads in the USA.


Safe alternatives
  • Whole wheat flour (unbleached and unbromated)- It will clearly say on the package of flour if it is unbleached and unbromated (unlike if it was). You can buy from Bob's Red Mill,  just look for organic unbleached unbromated flour, or from King Arthur Flour, which never contains bromate or bleach in any of their flours. 

Baking powder and baking soda, what really are they?
  • Baking soda and baking powder- Baking soda is made up of pure sodium bicarbonate.According to Wikipedia, that on its own "sodium bicarbonate is slightly toxic" Wikipedia also said that the difference between baking soda and baking powder was "In comparison to baking powder, baking soda is more alkaline and requires an acid to avoid the metallic taste when the chemical change creates sodium carbonate. Baking powder, on the other hand, contains baking soda, a powdered acid and cornstarch. In scientific terms, baking soda is a pure substance; baking powder is a mixture."

Spices aren't as safe as you might think.
Check out this article written by Vani Hari (A.K.A the food babe) about why and how non organic spices are actually really horrible for you.


As usual I will list a few levels with a brief description about each one. Assess your level and follow the suggestions for that level. 

Level One- Your head might just explode! Who knew all these toxins were in your kitchen!? Here are some ideas for you: 
  1. Avoid flour that's bleached or is bromated. 
  2. Try to cook at least one meal a week that's not made in an aluminum pot or pan. 
  3. Watch this interesting video on aluminum. 
Level Two- You had some idea how bad things were, but didn't know just how many things were chock full of dangerous chemicals, and in your kitchen of all places! Here are some ideas for you: 
  1. Avoid as much aluminum as possible. 
  2. Start reading labels when you go shopping. 
  3. For those aware people, watch this video for a good laugh. 
Level Three- You knew about some of this and try to buy as much organic food as possible, but weren't aware of all these horrible things added to some foods! Here are some ideas for you:  
  1. Watch this video for a good laugh. 
  2. Get rid of your aluminum cookware. 
  3. Buy organic spices only.  
  4. Your assignment is to try not to use any plastic wrap this month.  
For all levels- I encourage everyone to comment and share how you are banning unsafe kitchen products in your home and how you feel about this issue. Once you know more about these issues, spread the word! Tell your family and friends, it's time for us to wake up and get angry! Our voices raised as one can do anything!  


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