Lifestyle
Experts comment on the Karnataka health department's prohibition on plastic sheets for steaming idlis in hotels, which highlights harmful chemicals and cancer risks.


By Kajal Sharma - 03 Mar 2025 10:15 PM
Choosing safer and more sustainable alternatives is advised in order to prevent such chemical pollution and promote a healthier lifestyle.Due to worries that the harmful chemicals in plastic could cause cancer, the Karnataka health authority has outlawed the use of plastic sheets for steaming idlis in all of the state's lodging facilities, dining establishments, and food vendors. The health department has requested that safer substitutes like banana leaves or steel plates be used instead.
"Our Health Department has prohibited hotels in Karnataka from using plastic sheets to steam idlis. Plastic can release toxic compounds into food, which can cause cancer and other major health problems. Hotels need to cease using plastic right away and replace it with safer options like banana leaves or steel plates. Violators will face severe consequences; public health cannot be compromised! Report any instances of plastic being used in food preparation that you come across! Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao posted on X, "Let's make sure that everyone has access to safe, nutritious food."So let's see how plastic sheets might be dangerous. Because steaming idlis with plastic sheets may release dangerous chemicals like phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), there are serious health hazards involved.