I got an e-mail from Johns Hopkins alleging that microwaving food in plastic containers releases dioxin. Is this true?
No. This is an e-mail hoax that has been circulating the Internet for years. Dioxins are a group of compounds that can be produced by combustion at very high temperatures. The vast majority of plastics used in food wraps and packaging do not contain the chemical constituents needed to form dioxins. And dioxins form at very high temperatures, typically above 700 degrees Fahrenheit much higher than the temperatures that would be generated by microwave cooking. You also may hear claims that using plastic containers in the freezer can release dioxins which is also untrue. According to the FDA, which regulates food packaging, With regard to dioxins, we have seen no evidence that plastic containers or films contain dioxins and know of no reason why they would. The e-mail and its alleged ties to Johns Hopkins University or Walter Reed Army Medical Center (depending on which version you receive) are part of the hoax, and both organizations have publicly disavowed the claims.
