Yahoo Lifestyle Kitchen myths busted
Every month it seems there’s a new report about a terrifying carcinogen or bacteria that could be lurking in your kitchen. But the truth is usually less scary and more complicated than the headlines imply. We tracked down the facts behind five of the most widespread food fears.
RUMOUR | VERDICT | THE FACTS | KEEN IN MIND |
|---|---|---|---|
Cooking with nonstick pans leaches toxins into your food | SAFE | Nonstick saviour Teflon is slippery thanks to chemicals called PFOAs (perfluorooctanoic acids), high doses of which can cause cancer in lab animals. But experts, including nutritionist David Schardt, say studies show no evidence PFOAs seep into food or the air. In fact, some research suggests they’re destroyed during Teflon manufacture. | Even if PFOAs don’t escape when nonstick pans burn, researchers say that other harmful gases may. For safety’s sake, never leave an empty pan over an open flame or in a hot oven, where it can reach temperatures high enough for toxins to be released (about 370 degrees). Keeping food or water in the pan prevents this because they absorb excess heat. |
Eating raw eggs gives you salmonella | DANGER | Just one in 20,000 eggs has salmonella, WH health expert Dr Ginni Mansberg says, “But to be sure you’re not infected, only eat cooked eggs.” Salmonella can cause diarrhoea, fever and cramps. | Still can’t resist licking the cake mix bowl? Neither can we. If you must, go with pasteurised eggs – the heat used for pasteurising destroys salmonella, so the only risk you run is not fitting into your skinny jeans. |
Eating salad from the bag gives you food poisoning | DANGER | “The food industry goes to trouble to ensure food is free of pathogenic microorganisms,” says food safety expert Dr James Marsden. But a recent E. coli outbreak in the US may be linked to bagged spinach, so don’t risk it. | If E. coli bacteria are present, there’s no guarantee rinsing leaves will remove them entirely. For extra protection, wash your hands before and between handling different foods and thoroughly clean knives and cutting boards between uses. |
Microwaving plastic wrap causes cancer | SAFE | Do you worry that nuking plastic releases cancer-causing dioxins? You needn’t. “Dioxins aren’t present in plastics used for microwavable food containers or plastic wrap,” says Dr Rolf Halden, an assistant professor of environmental health sciences. | “When a package says ‘microwave safe’, manufacturers have gone to great lengths to prove the product is safe,” says Dr Marsden. If you don’t see those two magic words, keep it out of the microwave – chemicals could escape when nuked. And don’t reheat styrofoam containers. |
Eating grapefruit while on medication is dangerous | DANGER | Think grapefruit’s healthy? Not if you’re taking certain meds. “Consumption of grapefruit, even juice, isn’t advised when taking certain medications, particularly some for blood pressure, arthritis, psoriasis, organ transplants and epilepsy,” says nutrition expert Sharon Natoli. Grapefruit contains compounds that hinder the metabolism of some drugs. | The offending compounds in grapefruit don’t interact with all prescription drugs, so don’t scratch it off your shopping list without checking whether you’re on a medication that’s affected. After all, grapefruit’s high vitamin-C content makes it a darn good fruit for strengthening your immune system. |
