Dr Sam of Live Well Herbal Clinic has cautioned Ghanaians to stop wrapping hot foods with plastic bags (Banku rubber) since it is hazardous to their health.
According to him, plastic products and rubbers are made up of a chemical halogen element known as fluorine and when consumed can cause a lot of damage to the well-being of an individual.
“Hepatitis, liver failure, hypertension, heart failure, kidney failure, ulcer, cataract in eye respiratory and lungs disorder, infertility and low sperm count are some health diseases associated with consuming fluorine,” he said.
Plastic products and rubbers are now extensively used by many Ghanaians in all parts of the country and however, food vendors, mothers, and wives are not left out as they hinge on mainly the same rubbers in their daily activities to package, store and serve warm foods in home and offices.
Food packages in green leaves or earthenware were one of the best dishes the aged preferred to serve food, but almost all people of today have changed those styles and practising modern systems and as a result, these practices are very dangerous and pose serious health problems to them.
Speaking in an interview with Bryt Fm reporter, Abba Aggrey, Dr Sam indicated that eating directly from a plastic container can lead to hormonal imbalance in both adolescent males and females and can even lead to health issues like breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and among others.
“Rubbers are never made to keep warm foods like Porridge, soup, rice, Banku, Kafa, Tuo-Zaafi, Apapransa, Beans, Waakye because the fluorine is toxic and will end up getting into the food when it is warm or hot thus these foods can be served in leaves to prevent illness,” he stated.
“Avoid using rubber around Fante kenkey before using plantain leaves and then boiling on fire for long hours because some people develop some illness as a result of eating hot foods from rubbers or plastic containers.
Dr. Sam, therefore, advises food vendors, wives, and Ghanaians as a whole to avoid packaging or serving hot foods with polythene or plastic rubbers and rather adopt the practice of wrapping hot foods with leaves like plantain leaves, corn husk, waakye leaves to reduce the growth of diseases since the leaves can add some health benefits to the food to cure several diseases including diabetes.
“One can also use stainless steel and wooden products for keeping and cooking all warm foods instead of rubber,” he added.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Abba Kwegyirba Aggrey
