We know that microplastics have been detected in various organs in our bodies and that studies have linked their presence with all sorts of unpleasant health effects, from inflammation and fatty liver disease to reduced sperm quality and Alzheimer’s. What we do not yet know is how alarmed we should be about our actual level of exposure to these particles, which are everywhere, from the air we breathe to the water we drink and the food we eat.
“While we are still uncertain of the exact levels of risk for us, I’m sure there’s no disadvantage from minimising our exposure to these things,” says Dr Stephanie Wright, associate professor in environmental toxicology at Imperial, whose research focuses on microplastics and their potential health impacts on humans.
Rather than banish all plastic and synthetics from our homes in a panic, though, Wright suggests replacing plastic items as they reach the end of their natural life. Beyond dust particles from upholstery and clothing, Wright says the highest levels of microplastics seem to come from the kitchen, especially where plastics come into contact with heat.
She highlights the kettle as a utensil that is commonly lined with a thin film of plastic. Options with minimal plastic include Aarke’s stainless-steel model, which has the added benefit of beautiful design, multiple temperature settings and heat-retaining construction (£200, uk.aarke.com).
Aarke
Labour and Wait has an attractive green stovetop option from Japan (£95, labourandwait.co.uk). Cosori’s stainless-steel electric option is more basic and functional but crucially none of the elements that come into contact with the water, including the filter, lining or lid are plastic (£26, Amazon.co.uk).
Don’t go to all the effort of eschewing plastic in your kettle, only to pour hot water onto plastic-filled teabags. The Denshiro Urasenke cherry bark tea canister is a very special option for storing loose leaves (£196, abask.com). And don’t besmirch your coffee grounds either, instead use Selwyn House’s walnut coffee scoop (£26, pophamshome.com).
Non-stick coatings such as Teflon are also big microplastic shedders, although Wright notes that an initial heat treatment in the oven can shed a lot of the particles that would otherwise be released into food. Avoid the issue altogether with Hornbeam’s cast-iron skillets cast at a grey iron foundry run on renewable energy in Dorset and finished in Stockport.
Beloved of chefs including Andrew Clarke of Acme Fire Cult, the 10-inch skillet costs £125 (hornbeamcookware.com). Stainless steel is another good option and can be made less liable to stick by heating the pan until a few drops of water gather into a ball and skate across the surface of the pan before adding cooking oil and food. Birmingham manufacturer Samuel Groves produces durable stainless-steel cookware that comes with a lifetime guarantee. A 20cm frying pan costs £92.50 from John Lewis (johnlewis.com).
John Lewis
Falcon Enamelware is dishwasher, oven, hob and barbecue safe and is attractive enough to serve in, reducing washing up. The five-piece bake set should see you through most eventualities, from pies to lasagne and roasts (£90, falconenamelware.com). Casa Latina’s Colombian black clay hen cocotte is a fun way to rustle up a stew or soup (£112.50, casal atina.co.uk).
Opt for wooden chopping boards. Ferm Living’s chic Cairn cutting boards don’t need to stay hidden in the kitchen; (£175 for set of three, fermliving.co.uk) and utensils (Borough Kitchen’s olivewood spoon and spatula will be kind to your cookware, is non-porous, and carved from trees that no longer fruit; £5.25 each, boroughkitchen.com).
Arguably Wright’s worst culprit is using plastic containers to heat food, including takeaway boxes and microwave meal packaging. Even putting warm leftovers into a plastic container can cause it to shed particles into your food. Ikea’s 365 range of glass storage containers is dishwasher- and oven-proof and microwaveable; the boxes are stackable and come in multiple sizes with the option of bamboo or clip-on plastic lids (from £3.50, ikea.com). Alternatively, Toast’s enamel storage jars will look pretty on the shelf (£25, toa.st), while brown glass apothecary jars will add further vintage charm (from £10, labourandwait.co.uk).
Toast
Clingfilm is another item to be wary of, says Wright. “I try to avoid it. The most important thing is that you don’t let it come into contact with your food, more from a chemical migration perspective. Because it’s very thin and very flexible it’s probably got a lot of chemical additives in it and if they are in contact with food they can migrate into it.”
There’s no disadvantage from minimising our exposure
Most greaseproof paper also has a plastic coating. One alternative is reusable beeswax-coated cloths. While not quite so effective at preserving freshness they are a lot more attractive than plastic. Honey Bee Good wraps are produced in London and have modish prints including Liberty and William Morris options (from £16.99 for a set of three, honeybeegood.co.uk).
Ultimately, concern about microplastics should not equate to having to spend loads of money replacing everything in your kitchen. “These are difficult conversations because there’s an economic issue too, things like glass and stainless steel can be more expensive than the alternatives,” says Wright. “As long as people are conscious that when there’s heat involved they are trying to avoid plastic, I think that’s probably the best thing from both a particle and a chemical perspective.”