Since the past two weeks I have been inundated with messages from different quarters on why consumers should desist from using aluminum foil in cooking. I’m sure majority of you must have also received such messages. While ruminating over the message, I recalled a story entitled ‘poison from aluminum cookware’ which was published on this page last year, where similar concerns were raised.
However, a particular reader Mrs. Stella Nwosu, a caterer was really disturbed about the foil issue as according to her using foil makes her cooking a lot easier especially when it comes to cooking moi-moi. But my advice to her is to use the normal fresh leaves which we have been using in wrapping moi-moi.
Even Chief Audu Ogbe, the Minister of Agriculture advised recently that fresh leaves should be used as it has a lot of antioxidants.
All said, human beings do not ingest aluminum into their system through foil or aluminum cookwares only.
From desk research conducted, I discovered that human are naturally exposed to relatively large amounts of aluminum from food, water and air. It is the most prevalent element and the most abundant metal in the earth’s surface.
Research further indicates that we ingest aluminum from most of the things we consume and it can only be harmful to us with the exclusion of patients with liver problem when we exceed the normal level.
Sources of aluminum
Aluminum cookware
Aluminum is popular for cookware because it is inexpensive and lightweight.
For years, some have alleged that aluminum cookware could be a cause of headaches, colitis and indigestion especially when acidic foods like tomato etcetera are cooked in them.
Aluminum cans
Beer and soft drink cans are made exclusively from aluminum. Since these beverages are often highly acidic, even one beer or cola drink per day can lead to aluminum toxicity in susceptible individuals over a period of time.
Antacids
Most antacids contain significant amounts of aluminum hydroxide, including Maalox, Mylanta, Gaviscon, Riopan, Alka-Seltzer, Rolaids and many others. Buffered aspirin compounds, such as Ascriptin, also contain aluminum. Antacids are available which do not contain aluminum, such as Tums and one type of Riopan.
Anti-perspirants
Aluminum chlorhydrate or other aluminum compounds are used in anti-perspirants to inhibit sweating. Deodorants, in contrast to anti-perspirants, simply emit a pleasant odor but don’t inhibit sweating.
Significant amounts of aluminum can be absorbed through the skin when anti-perspirants are used daily.
Drying agents
Sodium silico-aluminate is a fine powder that is used to keep cocoa, salt and other products, dry. Baking powders also frequently contain aluminum.
Cosmetics
Aluminum is also used as a base for various paints and cosmetics.
Water supplies
Most municipal water supplies add aluminum to the drinking water as a flocculating agent (removes dirt). In addition, some water supplies may contain high amounts of naturally occurring aluminum compounds.
Others
Sodium aluminum phosphate is used as an emulsifier in processed cheese and potassium alum is used to bleach flour.
Vaccinations, including Hepatitis A and B, Hib, DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), pneumococcal vaccine, Gardasil (HPV), and others
Many body lotions and cremes
Most cosmetics
Shampoos and Conditioners
Soaps
Suntan lotions
The dairy industry adds aluminum to cheese – it’s the number one source of aluminum in the diet. Aluminum salts produce a smooth uniform film around fat droplets to avoid “fat bleeding” and to give the cheese a softer texture. And food typically provides at least 90% of dietary aluminum that reaches systemic circulation.
Most of the intake of aluminium from food comes from the natural content of aluminium in fruit and vegetables. This is because plants absorb aluminium from the soil.
To prepare, preserve and store food and drinks, aluminium in used in foils, menu trays, cans, etc. The amount of aluminium we get in our bodies from cans, foil or saucepans is very small (About 0.1 mg/day).