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Eating out increases levels of phthalates in the body, study finds

theguardian.com

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Re: Eating out increases levels of phthalates in the body, study finds

#71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> > sodium nitrate-laden > Every preserved meat in the world. Also found naturally in Chile. Just because it's common or "natural" doesn't mean it's not bad for you. There are legitimate health concerns about nitrate use in foods.[1][2] >> heats up frozen soup in a plastic bag > Again, most plastics are rated for this. Also helps cut down on glass shards in your food, or badly sanitized cookware giving you the runs.…

> How do you know which plastics This is regulated by the FDA. See [1] for a link to their hub which goes into far more detail. Obviously a restaurant can violate the regulation, just as they can slip glass shards into your food or not wear gloves. > Just because it's common or "natural" doesn't mean it's not bad for you You're correct in this regard at large, see Sharks, Lions and Bears. However nitrates (especially…

I think you're clearly downplaying some of the risks the original poster notes, simply to make a point.

Nitrates, for example, are in fact quite bad for us. They're carcinogens according to the WHO (1)

It's also well known that plastic does indeed frequently leach into our food and drinks.

I agree with previous poster, less snark would be appreciated considering you are also incorrect in some of your points.

1. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/2015/11/03/repo...

Re: Eating out increases levels of phthalates in the body, study finds

#72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> How do you know which plastics This is regulated by the FDA. See [1] for a link to their hub which goes into far more detail. Obviously a restaurant can violate the regulation, just as they can slip glass shards into your food or not wear gloves. > Just because it's common or "natural" doesn't mean it's not bad for you You're correct in this regard at large, see Sharks, Lions and Bears. However nitrates (especially…

I think you're clearly downplaying some of the risks the original poster notes, simply to make a point. Nitrates, for example, are in fact quite bad for us. They're carcinogens according to the WHO (1) It's also well known that plastic does indeed frequently leach into our food and drinks. I agree with previous poster, less snark would be appreciated considering you are also incorrect in some of your points. 1. https…

Processed meat itself is basically a carcinogen according to the WHO:

> Furthermore, processed meats can also contain other carcinogenic compounds such as PAHs which can be formed during smoking of meat (e.g. salami). Processed meats, particularly those containing red meat also contain heme iron, which can enhance the formation of carcinogenic compounds (NOCs) in the body.

I'm not opposed to specific, verifiable claims - "Non-foodsafe plastics are likely to leech into food especially when heated", etc. I'm entirely opposed to vague claims - "plastics are in your food and killing you!"

If you have a specific claim, then by all means make it. Don't make the claim "but nitrate laden meats!" because that is meaningless.

Re: Eating out increases levels of phthalates in the body, study finds

#73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> fluoride water So... tap water? Most countries add flouride to their tap water because it improves dental health. Unless you're a redneck screaming about alien mind control, that isn't some crazy scary chemical compound. > soy sauce with sodium beonzoate *Sodium Benzoate Again, perfectly boring salt that reduces pH. Not some scary mind control substance, just a salt you can produce at home. > sodium nitrate-laden E…

>> fluoride water > So... tap water? Most countries add flouride to their tap water because it improves dental health. Unless you're a redneck screaming about alien mind control, that isn't some crazy scary chemical compound. There are legitimate sources [1] today that are questioning the utility of adding fluoride to tap water. Questioning the utility and healthfulness of chemicals added to tap water should not be t…

Shame on that source for splitting up those two graphs and giving them different axes. Furthermore it doesn't give us the actual incidence rate of cavities between the two groups numerically, or account for differences in dental care.

But yes, unsurprisingly, dental care has improved since 1975. I would be horrified if that were not the case.

Let's follow that link at the bottom of the story, the one that lists "Letters in response".

> On behalf of the American Dental Association and its 159,000 member dentists, I am writing to express sincere concern over the article entitled, “Is fluoridated water safe,” by Nicole Davis that appears in Harvard Public Health, Spring 2016. The article overlooks critical facts about community water fluoridation that must be shared with your esteemed readers and the public at large.

https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/201...

> I am writing to express concern that Harvard Public Health would publish an article titled “Is Fluoridated Drinking Water Safe?” in the Spring 2016 issue and to share the reasons why the American Academy of Pediatrics stands behind the safety and effectiveness of community water fluoridation

https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/201...

I'm going to stop there, despite there being MANY more letters. Flouride in water is safe. That doesn't mean we can't still research it, ask specific questions and continue being informed, but if you are petitioning to remove flouride from water currently, you are acting irrationally and with no scientific basis whatsoever.

Re: Eating out increases levels of phthalates in the body, study finds

#74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Semantics. Restaurant are places where you eat. For most people, restaurants don't have star. In France, they mostly buy their stuff at Metro. That's why I pay more and more money to go to very good restaurant. But I care deeply about food, I love it, I cook, and I have money. That's not the usual situation.

I agree it is semantics, but it shouldn't be in my opinion. While it will never happen, I would prefer to call yourself a restaurant you would need to prove that you had hired qualified chefs and that you were producing all the for you sell. It's a major gripe of the industry that people like me do the work to create real quality food, and then get lumped in with places that use premade crap. I should probably stop m…

The fact is people vote with their moeny, and they don't vote for quality.

Re: Eating out increases levels of phthalates in the body, study finds

#75
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree it is semantics, but it shouldn't be in my opinion. While it will never happen, I would prefer to call yourself a restaurant you would need to prove that you had hired qualified chefs and that you were producing all the for you sell. It's a major gripe of the industry that people like me do the work to create real quality food, and then get lumped in with places that use premade crap. I should probably stop m…

Well, now is the perfect opportunity to name your restaurant :)

I doubt anyone on HN is close enough, it's in Ibiraki Japan - a little far for most of the people on here. (Note most of my experience is in Australia btw)

Re: Eating out increases levels of phthalates in the body, study finds

#76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree it is semantics, but it shouldn't be in my opinion. While it will never happen, I would prefer to call yourself a restaurant you would need to prove that you had hired qualified chefs and that you were producing all the for you sell. It's a major gripe of the industry that people like me do the work to create real quality food, and then get lumped in with places that use premade crap. I should probably stop m…

The fact is people vote with their moeny, and they don't vote for quality.

Well we are full every night (I can't remember a night in the last 3 weeks we haven't been at least 75% full at one stage). So at least enough are voting for quality here.

Re: Eating out increases levels of phthalates in the body, study finds

#77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> > sodium nitrate-laden > Every preserved meat in the world. Also found naturally in Chile. Just because it's common or "natural" doesn't mean it's not bad for you. There are legitimate health concerns about nitrate use in foods.[1][2] >> heats up frozen soup in a plastic bag > Again, most plastics are rated for this. Also helps cut down on glass shards in your food, or badly sanitized cookware giving you the runs.…

Ignoring conspiracy theory gibberish (in this case the fluoridated water rubbish) is MUCH worse than calling it out. You want HN to eventually be populated solely by ‘science proves immunization causes autism’ fruit-cakes? Then keep doing what you’re doing, which is ignoring their lunatic conspiracies and attacking anyone who calls them out with petty sanctimonious appeals to the rules.

Instead of calling you out, I'll just leave these here...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3433161/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3144112/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11275672

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17097768

Re: Eating out increases levels of phthalates in the body, study finds

#78
post #10

I can't tell if we treat our environment or our bodies worse, but the same mental process seems to drive how we treat each. The result is the same: to save a percent here and there we trash both.

I'm really sorry but I don't get the anaology. Eating home is significantly cheaper than eating out. How are those two things similar?

Re: Eating out increases levels of phthalates in the body, study finds

#79
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are you talking about? BurgerKing is certainly classified as a restaurant in Spain, France, and Italy. What do they call these places? I’m not sure how you validate such an absolute statement. My own travels had many examples of people in these countries using restaurant to refer to both fast food and sit down restaurants. There are thousands of web pages like this s one using restaurant to describe McDonalds in…

You're referencing a quora post by an American about some time spent in Spain. How is this an authoritative source? The following answer specifically rails against fast food and contrasts it against "restaurants and tapas bars", implying a difference. Sure you can use restaurant as a term to refer to a "place where food can be ordered" -- but if someone speaks the word, fast food is not what comes to mind.

That was just one example because I was searching in English and thought it was obvious.

Here’s the site for the Barcelona airport. By Spanish/Catalan - http://www.aena.es/es/aeropuerto-barcelona/todos-restaurante...

I should have provided better links.

The issue is that McDonalds is a type of restaurant (fast food). But still a type. Arguing that fast food or takeaways or whatnot isn’t a restaurant is pretty pedantic. (So is arguing at all, like I’m doing)

Re: Eating out increases levels of phthalates in the body, study finds

#80
post #2

Sounds like this is mostly about fast food chains, not restaurants in general. It also seems like this story should really be about calling out specific restaurants/chains for contaminated food, not presenting it as a general fact about restaurants.

IMO writing from the third world, it is almost always a safer bet to eat from an established fast food chain franchise, than restaurants, due to the poor state of regulation and enforcement of food safety standards. At least the chain franchise will have some guidelines on the quality of food, which ensures atleast that the food is not deadly if not healthy, where as with traditional restaurants all bets are off.

I've found across the whole of Asia, its perfectly safe to eat in independent restaurants, from hole-in-the wall places, street stalls and even old women frying chicken using portable burners on pavements in Indonesia.

I've always gone to places that are popular with locals - think about it, they wouldn't be popular if they gave customers the raging shits.

I can only assume that this holds true across other parts of the world. You don't make money without returning customers.

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