Heating Plastics

[BertiWooster]

This is an answer from a question in Food and Drink

' Please, please do not use any form of plastic whether cling film or plastic tubs for re-heating food or drinks. When plastic is heated it gives off 'dioxins' which are a cancer causing agent. Someone I know has recently died (37yrs) from stomach cancer, he lived off microwave meals. The hospital said it was probably due to re-heating plastics over a long period.
For cooking chickens in the oven, rub a little butter on the skin, wrap in tin foil and place inside a roasting tin. Do not roast open as this will dry out the meat. If you boil chicken you will loose all the flavour of the chicken in the water, hence the meat will taste bland'

If the above is correct why do manufactures sell food in plastic containers for cooking / re heating in mircrowaves and conventional ovens ?

[Mustardmit]

Thanks for this info, I was always nervous about re-heating stuff in the microwave in plastic/cling-film covered dishes, in future I'll use ceramic plates or just re-heat on the gas cooker.
MM

[slinkycat]

Oo-er, have recently taken to getting one of those supermarket takeaways in a bag, you know the sort, 2 tikka masala, korma and a madras plus rice etc,half the price of a takeaway.
If thats true will start decanting it into dishes to heat up, but surely once a week won't hurt?

[Old_Geezer]

http://www.snopes.com...oxins/cookplastic.asp

[Bert]

"Someone I know has recently died (37yrs) from stomach cancer, he lived off microwave meals. The hospital said it was probably due to re-heating plastics over a long period." - so that's a fact we can all rely on, isn't it?
"If the above is correct why do manufactures sell food in plastic containers for cooking / re heating in mircrowaves and conventional ovens ?" - you've sort of answered your own question, there, Berti. Unless you subscribe to conspiracy theories, that is.