You're starving and you're shopping for food. Your hands are shaking and your grumbling stomach conditions the brain to want food, any food. When this happens, you tend to grab anything convenient, especially ready-to-eat food in foam containers.
Dietician Waewta Ekchaona said shopping for food on an empty stomach is one of the most significant threats to health as it can cause adverse health-related impacts.
"When hungry, the blood sugar level becomes extremely low," said Waewta. "So you will end up wanting to eat anything in front of you _ regardless of its cooking process or the food container in which it is served."
According to the nutritionist, food containers play a crucial part in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. These days, unfortunately, a fair number of consumers pay very little attention to food containers when they opt for a quick meal.
Polystyrene foam and plastic food containers are among the most popular choices used by food vendors and restaurants. While foam was introduced to Thailand less than 40 years ago, the urban population has become quickly familiar with it, thanks to tight schedules and the hustle of city life that forces them to depend largely on "to-go" or ready-to-eat meals served in such containers.
Polystyrene foam creates more serious health effects than plastic, added Waewta. Even though there is no scientific research examining the health impacts on humans, a number of laboratory tests have proved that chemicals in the foam can potentially bring about unwanted health issues in animals.
"When exposed to prolonged heat, polystyrene foam releases two chemical substances: Styrene and benzene. Styrene damages the body's nervous system, while benzene is harmful to gastroenterological system," explained Waewta, also a columnist and guest lecturer at the Department of Home Economics, Kasetsart University's Faculty of Agriculture.
"Simply speaking, polystyrene foam is a mix of chemicals. And when chemicals enter the body, they become toxic," she added.
Benzene from polystyrene foam is likely to cause stomachaches, nausea and vomiting, while styrene will accumulate in the spinal cord, bones and brain, which can bring about leukaemia, as well as other diseases associating with immune deficiency.
Despite such risks, Waewta said there is no need for panic because it does not mean consumers will develop one of the aforementioned illnesses after they eat from foam containers. Normally symptoms will develop after the level of chemicals in the body becomes so high that it can no longer be endured.
The Ministry of Industry has enforced certain laws and regulations to strictly control the production process of foam food containers, Waewta noted.
Consequently, the manufacture, as well as the quality of the foodware, are controlled. But the problem stems from food sellers who frequently use the container incorrectly.
''You get a takeaway from a food vendor, let's say, omelette on rice,'' Waewta said. ''Of course, the omelette is freshly cooked and therefore is extremely hot. The seller first puts some rice in a foam container and puts your mouthwatering, hot omelette on top of the rice and then closes the container. You then carry the food back home. Along the way, the foam releases chemicals because it is exposed to the heat from the omelette. For dinner, you have eaten rice and omelette from a container contaminated with hazardous chemical substances.''
Even though plastic is known to be less dangerous than polystyrene foam when it comes to food containers, most plastic food containers manufactured are relatively safe for our health as the production process is strictly controlled by regulations with heavy penalties in case of the breach of rules.
But again, even though the quality of plastic food containers is up to standard, many times they are used in inappropriate ways.
One should be wary about grocery bags or what Thais refers to as tung gob gaeb, the nutritionist warned, as tung gob gaeb is made of vinyl and is resistant to neither low nor high temperatures.
''Tung gob gaeb is only to hold or carry things,'' Waewta stressed. ''But many times we see people put hot food in it. Very often we see deep-fried doughsticks or pa thong go, deep-fried banana or fried chicken being put and sold in grocery bags. And by doing so, food sellers are putting consumers at a high risk of being exposed to poisonous chemicals.''
Some types of good-quality plastic food containers, especially those used with frozen food, can be microwaveable and tolerate up to 120C. But it is vital to follow instructions on the food label, especially as to how long the food should be heated. And the plastic containers can be recycled but should not be reused with hot food.
Like polystyrene foam, there is no scientific study on humans regarding the health-related impacts of plastic. But animal testing has revealed that chemical substances from plastic can potentially weaken the body's immune system, especially if consumed in the long run.
But according to Waewta, avoiding all chemicals from both polystyrene foam and plastic food containers altogether is nothing but an impossible mission because, like it or not, almost everything used in our daily life, more or less, contains chemical substances.
To live a healthy life, the dietician recommends consumers opt for food that does not come in a takeaway boxes or plastic bags at least once a day to lessen the amount of chemicals the body is exposed to. Also it is a must to study all product labels carefully _ whether they are food or something inedible.
''Reading product labels is key,'' advised Waewta. ''When you buy plastic food storage containers, for example, reading the product description allows you to learn more about it and know how you can use it properly.
''When you opt for frozen foods, reading the label not only allows you to ensure that the food comes in a container that is safe to eat from, but also to know how much nutritional value the food itself contains.''
And parents should be a role model for their kids when it comes to food choice, the expert emphasised. If parents opt for quick food served in plastic or foam boxes every day, children will end up doing the same.
''And most importantly, eat wisely,'' Waewta suggested. ''Do not let your food cravings win over your ability to choose a healthy alternative for yourself. Think before deciding on what to eat. We must admit that these days diseases come with food science and technology so we must be more careful and this way we can protect ourselves from sickness.''
WORTH KNOWING
Polystyrene foam can tolerate temperatures between -20C to 80C, clear plastic heat-tolerant food bags (thung ron) can take up to 120C while low temperature-tolerant food bags (thung yen) can endure up to only 60C.
Oil, especially when hot, is able to melt both polystyrene foam and plastic food bags and thus trigger chemical release.
Some types of good-quality food wrap is microwaveable. But it is important to leave at least a 2.5cm space between the cling wrap and the food.
Plastic cutlery, polystyrene foam bowls and dishes widely used for parties should not be used with extremely hot food such as soup or deep-fried food.
Plastic cooking utensils should not be used in a cooking process that involves prolonged heat such as deep-frying or boiling.
Keep cooking oil, especially those in plastic bottles, away from the cooking area because heat while cooking might trigger the release of chemical substances from the bottle which will contaminate the oil.
Coloured plastic food containers should not be used with acidic food such as lemon juice or vinegar. Coloured plastic cups should not be used with carbonated drinks.
Alcohol can melt plastic. So do not put alcoholic beverages into plastic cups.
When using a microwave food cover, try to arrange the food in such a way that it does not contact the food cover.