Storing food in the fridge this way is slowly killing the entire household, causing serious cancer risks for many unknowing individuals.
1. Using the fridge like this could lead to cancer for the whole family.
Storing food in the fridge like this is gradually endangering the entire family, leading to serious cancer risks for many without their knowledge.
Utilizing plastic bags to store fresh produce
One of the extremely unhealthy habits seemingly every homemaker falls victim to is using plastic bags to store fresh produce immediately after purchasing from the market or harvesting from the garden, but delaying consumption and opting to store them in plastic bags in the fridge for later use. Misconceptions about fridge usage, entrusting everything to the fridge as it stands today, are inviting illness upon consumers.
It's hard to fully describe the convenience and super cheap price of plastic bags. With their low cost and ability to hold various items of different sizes, the demand for these bags is high. Especially for sellers, no one has time to think about different types of bags made from this material or that material to hold the items they sell to customers, such as fabric bags, paper bags... Plastic bags come in different thicknesses depending on the need, being cheap for sellers and convenient for buyers, making them a perfect choice.
Many studies affirm that plastic bags pose a threat to human life
Research from the University of Pennsylvania (USA) shows that storing food in plastic bags, including plastic bags in general, can pose health risks due to the chemical components they contain: BPA and DEHP. BPA is associated with obesity and larger waistlines in the group of children and adolescents.
According to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), BPA also affects the brain, slowing development, causing inflammation of the liver, endocrine disorders, and infertility. It is also a type of chemical with a very high risk of causing cancer.
According to the US Department of Agriculture and Trade Policy, plastic bags made from high-density or low-density polyethylene are usually labeled as numbers 2 or 4. When food is stored in these plastic bags, these chemicals can leach into the food and then be absorbed into the body, even with food wrapping. Over time, the chemicals in plastic bags can alter tissue, cause genetic damage, miscarriages, birth defects, premature puberty, and endocrine changes. In children, chemicals in plastic bags can harm the immune system and stimulate disruptions in behavior, cognition...
Note: Always cover food tightly
Leftover food when stored in the fridge, if not tightly covered, not only loses its flavor but also easily spoils, posing health risks. Leaving food uncovered is the main cause of digestive system diseases.
Therefore, remember to tightly cover food every time you put it in the fridge. Ideally, you should put them in a plastic container with a lid. You can also use air-tight wraps to prevent air in the fridge from affecting the food and limit food spoilage.
Note that you should only use tools that have been safety certified for freezing, as not all containers are safe for storing food in the fridge or freezer, especially single-use plastic containers.
Storage Note
1. Never place meat on the top shelf
Raw chicken or bacteria-infected campylobacter can be dangerous, often causing symptoms like abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea. Therefore, if you place raw chicken on a shelf with vegetables, the water in the meat will seep through any gaps, contaminate the vegetables, and poison you if you eat them raw. It's best to put the meat in a sealed container and store it on the bottom shelf of the fridge. You can also separate raw foods from ready-to-eat foods, cooked foods, or raw meat and fish.
2. Be cautious with raw vegetables
We often overlook the role of vegetables in transmitting disease-causing bacteria. E.Coli bacteria often exist in cold and frozen forms and are commonly found in soil where vegetables are grown. This type of bacteria can cross-contaminate from vegetables to other foods in the fridge, so don't forget to thoroughly wash vegetables before storing them separately in the fridge.
3. Storing rice in the fridge is also unsafe
Bacillus cereus - a bacteria commonly found in plants grown close to the ground like rice, grains, and herbs, can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. This bacteria remains inactive during cooking, but when rice is left cold, it begins to produce harmful toxins.