Is the aluminium foil we use every day a safety hazard?

Is the aluminium foil we use every day a safety hazard?

Aluminium foil is a thin, versatile metal that is commonly used in the home, especially in cooking. Food contains small amounts of aluminium. Aluminium is one of the most abundant metals on the planet. In its natural state, it combines with other elements such as phosphates and sulphates in soil, rock and clay. However, it is also present in small amounts in air, water and food.

In fact, it is naturally present in most foods, including fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, cereals and dairy products. Some foods, such as tea, mushrooms, spinach and turnips, also absorb and accumulate it more readily than others. In addition, some of the aluminium you eat comes from processed food additives such as preservatives, colouring agents, anti-caking agents and thickeners.

But aluminium foil should not be used in the microwave. Although special aluminium foil is available in supermarkets, be careful. This is because when food wrapped in aluminium foil is heated in the oven, the foil will spark when it comes into contact with the inner wall. Avoid using ordinary plastic containers: Firstly, hot food will deform the plastic containers, and secondly, ordinary plastic will release toxic substances that will contaminate the food and endanger human health.

So the aluminium foil we are using every day, is it a safety risk? Then it is largely harmless. However, be aware that commercially produced foods containing food additives may contain more aluminium than home cooked foods.