Study error: Are black spatulas as bad for you as originally claimed?
Key Takeaways
Industry Insights
“This isn’t about creating fear; it’s about empowering people to make better choices and pushing for industry accountability to ensure that the products we use every day are safe for ourselves and our families.” - Pamela Tambini, MD
A December 2024 article published in the clinical journal Chemosphere reported that flame retardants (FR)—found in household items like spatulas and plastic kitchen utensils—can potentially wreak havoc on the human body, as these chemicals are linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental issues.[][]
The study originally claimed that the estimated risk from kitchen utensils was much higher than it really is, leading to a media frenzy that caused people to throw away their utensils.[]
Where did the mistake happen?
"[W]e miscalculated the reference dose for a 60 kg adult, initially estimating it at 42,000 ng/day instead of the correct value of 420,000 ng/day," the authors clarified."[] But that didn’t change the researchers’ ultimate conclusion: When toxic additives are used in plastic, they can make their way into food—and the environment.
In fact, the authors say, these flame-retardant chemicals are also found in indoor and outdoor air, indoor dust, water, marine life, bird eggs, and human breast milk.[]One 2024 study published in Toxicology Letters said that brominated flame retardants are associated with breast and endocrine-related cancer.[] Experts say that physicians should stay up-to-date with studies like these to educate patients on possible risks.