Silicone moulds have over the years, become quite popular with people who bake; they’re very heat-resistant, can get the job done without greasing and save space due to the flexibility of the material. Practicality aside, using these moulds could pose a health risk to you over time, that’s according to a new study by a prominent consumer protection body in France.
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Disturbing numbers
The French consumer protection body, UFC-Que Choisir found that most of these utensils contain ‘very high’ levels of harmful substances that could contaminate food. The researchers arrived at this conclusion after an analysis of 29 baking moulds revealed that 23 present serious health risks to consumers.
In some of the moulds tested, levels of substances found exceeded the maximum level provided for French regulations. For others, the levels of harmful substances increased while in use. The experts say this is worrying because levels are supposed to drop instead of increasing. Olivier Andrault, the UFC-Que Choisir food mission manager told Franceinfo:
These are substances which are considered by the European authorities as extremely worrying. Fifteen times more substances are emitted during the third firing than during the first
Health risk?
Of the 23 moulds found to be unsafe, the study advises consumers to avoid six due to the presence of substances that cause serious damage to health. Andrault added these were:
substances of particular concern likely to cause cancer, genetic mutations or damage to reproductive functions.
However, the researchers explained that it is exposure to a whole range of harmful substances in daily life that increases this risk in some people, and not just the use of silicone moulds. What this means is that, using silicone moulds regularly exposes you to these substances, but they are present in other forms as well.
Sources used:
Le Parisien: Harmful substances in silicone moulds: the UFC-Que Choisir alert
