Varsity study finds cling films unsafe for health : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

Varsity study finds cling films unsafe for health

CHANDIGARH: We all have bought burgers, kathi rolls or hotdogs wrapped in cling films from eateries. They are served to us after being heated up in microwave oven.

Varsity study finds cling films unsafe for health

Burgers wrapped in cling films at a shop in Panjab University. Tribune photo



Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 21

We all have bought burgers, kathi rolls or hotdogs wrapped in cling films from eateries. They are served to us after being heated up in microwave oven. 

A Panjab University (PU) study, published in the ‘Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy’ on August 29, has found that the cling films contain plasticisers that include phthalates, adipates and citrates and have serious health implications.

These are plastic films and are used to keep food items fresh for a long period. They are sold in the form of rolls. Phthalates are added to soften these films.

In 1999, the toxicological studies led to its ban due to addition of phthalates in food packaging materials in European countries. 

However, these materials are still used in India for wrapping purposes. 

The transfer of plasticisers from cling films into food material depends on the temperature, surface area, time of contact, chemical composition of wrapping materials and type of food products. 

The lipophilic nature of these plasticisers supports their migration into fat and oil components of food products.

“Rise in temperature and time of contact with the wrapped food increases the migration rate considerably. Most of the time, fast food items are heated in oven without removing the cling film which contaminates the food with plasticisers,” says Dr Vishal Sharma, Institute of Forensic Science and Criminology, PU, who conducted the study.

“Exposure of plasticisers should be limited to the total daily intake which is 0.3 mg/kg body weight,” says Dr Raj Kumar, another author of the study, who is working as a research associate with Dr Sharma.

Dova Nani, a postgraduate student, has also worked on the research paper.

The study

For the study, 22 rolls of cling films from different brands were purchased from supermarkets, general stores and online shopping chains from different states of India.

Of them, only three brands were found to be plasticisers free. “We have used infrared spectroscopy to know the polymers inside the cling films,” says Dr Sharma.

“The consumption of the plasticisers adversely affects the human reproductive, respiratory and endocrine system and can even cause cancer. It may also cause skin diseases,” says Dr Sharma.

They are also used in packing illegal drugs, developing explosive devices and shielding electric wires. The study concludes that the source of cling films used in wrapping drugs could be known with spectroscopic analysis. 

“We can even find out from where the drugs are packaged and its modus operandi by developing a library of cling films, based on its composition and comparing the used film,” says Dr Sharma.

Recommendations

  • Avoid packaged food in plastics.
  • Store your food in glass containers. 
  • You can also use white cotton cloth to wrap your food instead of using aluminium foils.

Top News

Cash-strapped Congress gets fresh IT notice of Rs 1,700 crore, say party insiders

Cash-strapped Congress gets fresh I-T notice of Rs 1,800 crore

Ajay Maken addresses a press conference

Arvind Kejriwal's wife releases WhatsApp number for people to send messages for jailed AAP leader

Arvind Kejriwal's wife launches WhatsApp campaign to garner support for AAP leader

In a digital media briefing, Sunita says her husband has cha...

Alka Rai, widow BJP MLA killed by Mukhtar Ansari, says 'justice has been served', visits Ram Mandir

Alka Rai, widow BJP MLA killed by Mukhtar Ansari, says 'justice has been served', visits Ram Mandir

Alka Rai is the wife of MLA Krishanand Rai, who was shot dea...

High alert across Uttar Pradesh after gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's death

High alert across Uttar Pradesh after gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's death

Umar Ansari alleged that his father was subjected to slow po...


Cities

View All