According to the report, micro- and nanoplastic particles are released from the plastic packaging of ready-to-eat meals when heated.
There are plenty of ready-made meals that make busy everyday life easier. Karoliina Vuorenmäki
Heating ready-made meals and takeaway food packed in plastic in a microwave or oven can release hundreds of thousands of micro- and nanoplastic particles and toxic chemicals into the food.
The information comes from Greenpeace’s recent international analysis, which compiled peer-reviewed scientific research data on microplastics.
“The most strictly regulated”
Einekset, or industrially prepared ready-made meals, are popular everyday conveniences in Finland, which usually only require heating. Food is often packaged in plastic.
We asked domestic restaurants to comment on the results of the report.
– In Saarioinen’s product packaging, only tested packaging materials in accordance with EU legislation are used, which are purchased from approved and reliable suppliers. Plastics are the most strictly regulated packaging material in the EU, begins Ruokatalo Saarioinen’s commercial director Sari Rosin.
– Our plastic packaging has been tested to be safe to use for heating food in the microwave in accordance with EU legislation. The consumer is often offered several food heating options in the instructions on the packaging for the food to be heated. These often include a microwave oven, an oven, and the increasingly popular air fryer.
According to Rosin, some of the usage situations are also such that the consumer only takes part of the product on a plate or other container to be heated. This is often the case, for example, with products with larger packaging sizes.
– We actively follow research and legislative requirements regarding microplastics. We also study Greenpeace’s summary carefully, he says.
We also asked for a comment from Ruokatalo Atria, but according to the company’s communications, the experts responsible for the packaging were on winter vacation, so the company was unable to answer our questions with such short notice.
Plastic packaging accounts for approximately 36 percent of all plastic worldwide, and plastic production is estimated to more than double by 2050.