1. When purchasing ceramic tableware, it is best to choose tableware with white inner wall without on-glaze pigment. Newly bought ceramic tableware can be soaked and boiled with 4% vinegar water, which can remove harmful substances. When purchasing ceramic tableware, choose products with fine processing, dense appearance, uniform luster, smooth surface, and uniform and solid glaze layer. It is best to choose products with advanced technology and environmentally friendly pigments.
2. Do not choose brightly colored plastic tableware. According to testing, the color patterns of some plastic tableware contain lead, cadmium and other heavy metal elements exceeding the standard. Therefore, try to choose colorless and odorless plastic tableware without decorative patterns. In addition, when buying instant bowl noodles, pay attention to the logo on the bottom of the bowl. If the logo is “PS” (polystyrene) or “PP” (polypropylene), you can use it with confidence. The foamed plastic bowl contains a foaming agent. After soaking in hot water, the harmful substances in the foaming agent will dissolve and enter the human body with food. In addition to being non-degradable, disposable foam plastic lunch boxes also have the above problems, so they are prohibited from being used.
3. Don’t choose paint chopsticks. Painted chopsticks, while highly decorative, are not desirable from a health standpoint. Because paint contains lead, cadmium and other toxic substances. People are better off using bamboo or wooden chopsticks that are unpainted and hygienic.
4. Non-stick pans, rice cookers, etc. are not suitable for dry burning. The inner wall of the non-stick pan and rice cooker is a plastic coating made of polytetrafluoroethylene. When heated above 400°C, the coating may release the toxic gas tetrafluoroethylene. Therefore, people must not let non-stick pans and rice cookers burn empty.
5. Iron and aluminum tableware should not be used together. Although iron tableware is safe, if it is used in conjunction with aluminum tableware, it will bring greater harm to the human body. Since aluminum and iron are two metals with different chemical reactivities, when water is present, aluminum and iron can form a chemical battery, which results in more aluminum ions entering the food. Therefore, tableware such as aluminum spoons, aluminum shovels and iron pans should not be used together.
