Have you ever reheated the remains of the previous night's takeaway in the microwave? A toxicology expert has warned of the health dangers of doing so with the food still in its plastic container. Speaking on Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO Podcast, Dr Yvonne Burkart explained that even after a few seconds billions of microplastic plastics will be released into your food "just from a tiny square centimetre". Steven duly grabbed a plastic container, admitting it was "super convenient" for his lunch at work, before questioning whether they were safe.
"Absolutely not," Dr Burkart affirmed in a clip of the show shared to TikTok . "Do not microwave plastic containers." Re-emphasising her microplastic caution, she continued: "With microplastics, they're hard - it's a solid mass.
It does not break down in the body." Studying a marking on his own container, Steven asked the doctor if a "BPA free" note meant his plastic was exempt from her warning. However, she responded: "That's great, but it's still plastic.
" Dr Burkart closed: "It's still microplastic. It's still nanoplastic releasing. And it probably has phthalates [a group of chemicals that are used to make plastics more flexible and durable] in it depending on the type of plastic.
" In response, one TikTok user said: "Same for ready meals or takeaway plastic containers, or even at work if you bring leftovers in plastic put it on a normal plate to microwave." A second said: "Well , I've learnt something. Will not use plastic cont.