Study: Your Black Plastic Spatula Is Hazardous to Your Health

Overview: Flame-retardant chemicals are typically used to keep the plastic that houses thing like smartphones or laptop computers from catching fire. But when that material is recycled, it’s often made into products that come into contact with hot food. If you’ve ordered takeout food that came in a black plastic container, or if you have a ladle or spatula in your kitchen that’s made of black plastic, it may be time to find a new restaurant — and maybe go shopping for new utinsels.   A new study has found that the black plastic comes from recycled electric and electronic products that have high concentrations of flame-retardant chemicals, known carcinogens that can seep into food when the plastic comes in contact with heat.  RELATED: Temu or Shein Could Be Hazardous to Your Health – Especially if You’re Black That finding is significant news for Black Americans, who have disproportionately high rates of cancer and other illnesses that those chemicals can trigger. Black stories matter Stay up-to-date on reporting that amplifies the stories, voices, and perspectives of Black America. Authors of the study published last month in Chemosphere, found cancer-causing flame retardants in 85% of consumer household products it tested. The highest...