1. Everyday plastics such as plastic packaging, contain Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs) that can interfere with your body's natural hormones, affecting everything from growth to fertility.
2. Simple steps to protect yourself include choosing safer alternatives for food packaging such as reusable containers, and choosing fresh, unpackaged foods when possible.
3. Taking small steps to reduce EDC use not only makes a big difference to your health but also helps protect the environment.
Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs), found in everyday plastics, can interfere with your body's natural hormones and affect everything from growth to fertility.
"Uncle! One Hokkien Mee dapao!"
"Auntie! Kopi siew dai to-go! Use a plastic bag, please; it's cheaper!"
This familiar scene plays out thousands of times daily across Singapore as we enjoy our favourite local dishes and beverages through dining in, takeaway, or delivery services.
Most of the time, dishes such as noodles, rice, soups, or other meals are delivered in plastic containers, plastic bags, styrofoam boxes, or paper boxes.
These meals are usually packed immediately after cooking, which means the food is hot - often piping hot and oily.
While our food delivery culture brings incredible convenience, there's something we should know about those plastic containers keeping our food warm.
What's REALLY in everyday plastics?
When hot, oily food meets plastic packaging, it creates the perfect condition for harmful chemicals called Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs) to seep into our food.
These chemicals can interfere with our body's natural hormones, affecting everything from growth to fertility.
Where EDCs can be found in daily life
1. Reusable containers and water bottles (contain Bisphenois or BPA)
- Can affect brain development
- Linked to anxiety and depression
- May impact fertility and hormonal balance
2. Everyday products such as cleaning agents and cosmetics (contain Alkylphenols)
- Can affect reproductive health
- May increase cancer risks
3. The grease-fighters in food packaging (contain PFAs)
- Common in pizza boxes and popcorn bags
- Can affect metabolism and immunity
- Linked to several types of cancer
4. Plastic toys (contain BFRs)
- Can affect development
- Particularly risky for young children
5. Plastic softeners in food packaging and supplements (contain phthalates)
- Can affect hormone levels
- May impact pregnancy outcomes
Why you should care
These chemicals don't just affect us today - their impact can span generations.
Studies have found EDCs in the placenta, potentially affecting unborn babies.
While we can't completely avoid EDCs in our modern world, we can take steps to reduce our exposure.
Simple steps to protect yourself
1. Choose safer alternatives
- Bring your own reusable containers for takeaway
- Opt for glass or stainless-steel food storage
- Transfer hot food to home containers immediately
2. Pick smarter choices
- Avoid heating food in plastic containers
- Look for "BPA-free" products
- Choose fresh, unpackaged foods when possible
3. Making small changes creates big impact
- Use cloth bags instead of plastic
- Store leftovers in glass containers
- Avoid plastic wrap for hot foods
While convenience is important in our fast-paced lives, taking small steps to reduce EDC exposure can make a big difference to our health and our environment.
By making informed choices about food packaging, we can protect ourselves while still enjoying the convenience of our favourite takeaway meals.
Remember: Making small changes to our food storage habits can help protect our health and that of future generations.
Ref: F26
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