Zoe Schlanger

They can't really see the plastic that's black because they use optical sensors. So that means instead of coming from a clean recycling stream, some black plastic products seem to be made out of dubious recycled products, particularly e-waste, electronic waste, often abroad with very little oversight. And electronics are imbued often with flame retardants.

So we're talking about like the black plastic housing on your computer monitor or your cell phone or your keyboard. Those can all have flame retardants in them to keep them from catching fire. And flame retardants are associated with a huge range of health hazards from, you know, cancer, diabetes, thyroid issues.

So we're talking about like the black plastic housing on your computer monitor or your cell phone or your keyboard. Those can all have flame retardants in them to keep them from catching fire. And flame retardants are associated with a huge range of health hazards from, you know, cancer, diabetes, thyroid issues.

So we're talking about like the black plastic housing on your computer monitor or your cell phone or your keyboard. Those can all have flame retardants in them to keep them from catching fire. And flame retardants are associated with a huge range of health hazards from, you know, cancer, diabetes, thyroid issues.

And then they may end up remolded into implements that are touching your food, which they were never meant to be part of. And then you use those implements with heat and oil, which are all things that, like, encourage these compounds in the plastic to migrate out of the object. And then you just eat a lot more of those gross things.

And then they may end up remolded into implements that are touching your food, which they were never meant to be part of. And then you use those implements with heat and oil, which are all things that, like, encourage these compounds in the plastic to migrate out of the object. And then you just eat a lot more of those gross things.

And then they may end up remolded into implements that are touching your food, which they were never meant to be part of. And then you use those implements with heat and oil, which are all things that, like, encourage these compounds in the plastic to migrate out of the object. And then you just eat a lot more of those gross things.

Right. Not all of it is. Certainly, there could be new, pure black plastic that is not coming from recycled e-waste, but there's no way to tell.

Right. Not all of it is. Certainly, there could be new, pure black plastic that is not coming from recycled e-waste, but there's no way to tell.

Right. Not all of it is. Certainly, there could be new, pure black plastic that is not coming from recycled e-waste, but there's no way to tell.

No, actually, there's lots of toxins in all recycled plastic. But we're mostly just talking about flame retardants here. And in the U.S. and in lots of other places, there are laws against or rules against combining electronic waste with, like, the general consumer recycling flow. So really, these flame retardants are never supposed to get into your consumer products, but they are.

No, actually, there's lots of toxins in all recycled plastic. But we're mostly just talking about flame retardants here. And in the U.S. and in lots of other places, there are laws against or rules against combining electronic waste with, like, the general consumer recycling flow. So really, these flame retardants are never supposed to get into your consumer products, but they are.

No, actually, there's lots of toxins in all recycled plastic. But we're mostly just talking about flame retardants here. And in the U.S. and in lots of other places, there are laws against or rules against combining electronic waste with, like, the general consumer recycling flow. So really, these flame retardants are never supposed to get into your consumer products, but they are.

Why plastic, though? Well, first of all, from a purely utilitarian perspective, plastic's just a terrible thing to use when you're dealing with a hot pan. I mean, the thing melts. It's just not a very durable product. But plastic of all colors probably has stuff in it that you don't really want interacting with your food. I mean, at the very bottom of this long list is microplastics.

Why plastic, though? Well, first of all, from a purely utilitarian perspective, plastic's just a terrible thing to use when you're dealing with a hot pan. I mean, the thing melts. It's just not a very durable product. But plastic of all colors probably has stuff in it that you don't really want interacting with your food. I mean, at the very bottom of this long list is microplastics.

Why plastic, though? Well, first of all, from a purely utilitarian perspective, plastic's just a terrible thing to use when you're dealing with a hot pan. I mean, the thing melts. It's just not a very durable product. But plastic of all colors probably has stuff in it that you don't really want interacting with your food. I mean, at the very bottom of this long list is microplastics.

If you have a piece of plastic that you're using regularly in the kitchen, it's sloughing off microplastics into your food.

If you have a piece of plastic that you're using regularly in the kitchen, it's sloughing off microplastics into your food.

If you have a piece of plastic that you're using regularly in the kitchen, it's sloughing off microplastics into your food.

It's like use. Dandruff, just like plastic dandruff is coming off. Exactly like dandruff. I mean, one thing I also notice in people's kitchens is how common a plastic cutting board is. And that's just you slicing chunks of plastic into your tomatoes every single time. And I get why people have it. It's, like, easier to make it sanitary. They wash quite well. But it's just not worth it.