What to Know about Plastic Dishes
By Hayley Hellstern, DO
Though this month might be known for weather that comes “in like a lion and out like a lamb,” it might also be the month for “out with the old and in with the new” in your home.
There are certain common household items that we have been using for years but might not be so safe, after all. One of those items is commonly used by children - plastic dishes. Research is showing us that many of these items contain chemicals (such as BPAs) that can interfere with the body’s natural hormone levels, possibly leading to long-term health consequences.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a statement in 2018 with the following recommendations:
Avoid microwaving food or beverages (including infant formula and pumped human milk) in plastic, if possible.
Avoid placing plastics in the dishwasher.
Look at the recycling code on the bottom of products to find the plastic type, and avoid plastics with recycling codes 3 (phthalates), 6 (styrene), and 7 (bisphenols) unless plastics are labeled as “biobased” or “greenware,” indicating that they are made from corn and do not contain bisphenols.
Use alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.
I highly recommend taking a look at your childrens’ dishware and tossing out any plastics, especially if they are old or contain BPAs.
Our family has made a resolution to abandon plastics in our kitchen this year. In doing so, we discovered Ahimsa - pediatrician-developed stainless steel dishware. Their products come in a variety of colors to keep kids’ attention during meals, and they are appropriately sized to help parents provide the right portions. Our children love them, and so do we. Ahimsa products are dishwasher safe and come with a lifetime guarantee! You can find them at ahimsahome.com. (Disclaimer: Dr. Hellstern does not have any professional or financial connections to Ahimsa. She just loves their products!)
Link to the AAP Policy Statement: https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/2/e20181408/37584/Food-Additives-and-Child-Health?autologincheck=redirected
Citation: Leonardo Trasande, Rachel M. Shaffer, Sheela Sathyanarayana, COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, Jennifer A. Lowry, Samantha Ahdoot, Carl R. Baum, Aaron S. Bernstein, Aparna Bole, Carla C. Campbell, Philip J. Landrigan, Susan E. Pacheco, Adam J. Spanier, Alan D. Woolf; Food Additives and Child Health. Pediatrics August 2018; 142 (2): e20181408. 10.1542/peds.2018-1408
