Suspicion Confirmed re Glass vs. Plastic

Thank you, thank you ABC News for confirming on a televised report March 30, 2011, my suspicion about plastic food containers (see my January post:  Storing Food - Glass vs. Plastic):
http://maeke-caringandsharing.blogspot.com/2011/01/storing-food-glass-vs-plastic.html

A study shows that non-glass food containers (including plastic in particular) contribute to higher levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in people who eat foods that are in these containers. The concern is the relationship of higher BPA levels to a variety of health issues, including cancer and heart and prostrate problems.  To read the complete newscast, please visit:

http://abcnewsradio.squarespace.com/health-news/study-eating-fresh-food-reduces-exposure-to-bpa.html

Be well!

Pasteurize Milk -- Or Not?

Recently the topic of pasteurized milk was discussed at dinner.  I have never objected to it but thought I better look into "modern day" opinion before deciding whether or not to maintain my current view.  The Wikipedia web site helped greatly:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_milk

 

I now continue my original "take" on the subject based on years of eating raw oysters and all kinds of food at public events and in public places; not seeing adverse effects of my husband eating cheese or sour cream that has grown a little mold (which he believes is medicinal) and eating meat cooked very rare; knowing that e-Coli exists everywhere; and now having read the pretty small number of people in the USA who may have been affected, according to a 2002 FDA report, by unpasteurized milk.  Many people throughout the world still consume unpasteurized milk and milk products, according to the Wikipedia article, and many purposefully so.  I am not hearing of them experiencing noteworthy adverse effects.

 

Given the statistics of ill health from foods (which is often short-lived and not always deadly) versus being injured, maimed, or killed in every day accidents, I'll not obsess over the comparatively minor stuff.  However, if a person is more comfortable with stringent milk processing, that's certainly an acceptable option -- and a safe one!

Storing Food - Glass Vs. Plastic Containers

Years ago when part of a committee studying refuse disposal, I came to appreciate the cleanliness of glass and the toxicity of plastic when it deterioraes.  For a long time it seemed to me that food stored in glass containers not only tasted better when finally eaten but that it also stayed "good" longer.  What I learned through the study prompted me to actually put it to the test.  Sure enough, food stored in plastic spoiled faster than food I stored in glass.  I still maintain, too, that the food taken from the glass containers taste purer/fresher than those from the plastic containers. 

Since many elements can cause plastic to deteriorate, it seems logical to me that acids, oils, and other components in foods can break down plastic to some degree -- something that I personally prefer not to consume, if I have a choice.  Often times I take microwavable foods packaged in plastic out of their containers and put them in a microwavable container before cooking them.  Then if there is any left over, it is easy to cover the container with pretty much anything and store it so that it remains in the glass container.