As of: April 3, 2024, 8:03 p.m
By: Cefina Gomez
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How often can baking paper be reused for pizza and other dishes? Consumer advocates advise not too often. Health could be affected.
Munich – Many households use baking paper as a base on the baking tray. Tiny cellulose fibers with a wafer-thin layer of silicone ensure that nothing sticks to the baking paper and the baking tray does not have to be laboriously scrubbed after each use.
In 2014, the Institute for Consumer Goods (IfB) Lüneburg of Lower Saxony
The State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES) examined and evaluated 36 samples of baking paper. Baking paper that has been used too often can have a negative impact on your health.
Is baking paper safe for your health? That's what consumer advocates say
The institute's test kitchen tested whether baking paper can withstand higher temperatures and whether the food is contaminated with substances that are harmful to health. Of the 36 baking papers examined, 23 tested positive for the preservative sorbic acid, according to LAVES.
According to a recommendation from the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), sorbic acid is permitted in quantities that serve to protect raw materials and processing aids from spoilage, but without preserving the food itself. The preservative sorbic acid is suspected of promoting allergies.
Five times or ten times? Many people use baking paper far too often. © IMAGO/Zoonar.com/Anatolijs Jascuks
The examination of the 36 baking papers from the trade showed that all requirements for good manufacturing practice and labeling were met. The baking papers tested by the Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES) are therefore flawless and do not stand in the way of health-friendly baking pleasure. Recently, microplastics were even discovered in chewing gum, which is why experts warn of possible health risks.
In 2022, LAVES took another look at 15 baking papers. All tested products adhered to the limit values. Only one piece of baking paper was missing the label stating that baking paper can be used at a maximum of 220 degrees.
This is what consumer protection advises: “Baking paper should not be used too often or for too long”
Even if baking paper itself is harmless, consumers should not exceed the maximum temperature in the oven of 220 degrees Celsius for the sake of their health. If the baking paper becomes brown and brittle, harmful substances could be transferred to the baked goods, reports LAVES.
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That's why consumer advocates recommend paying attention to the labeling on the packaging if you have to bake at a higher temperature. “In principle, baking paper should not be used too often or for too long; if it becomes brittle or has a strong brown discoloration, it is better to replace it,” recommends consumer protection.
If you prefer to use silicone mats or Teflon-coated baking foil instead of baking paper, you should also be careful. Teflon may contain PFAS, which is harmful to the environment and health, ZDF
reported
. The EU is currently considering a ban on the chemical, which is suspected of being carcinogenic. This has already been discovered in 1,500 everyday places in Germany. However, health-conscious people should avoid sweeteners. Researchers have found that artificial sugar can be harmful to the intestines and could even cause diabetes.
(cg)