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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Rose Stokes

‘A pretty easy fix’: how I rid my kitchen of plastic – and seven of the best swaps

A hand places an apple into a plastic-free lunchbox filled with almonds, peas, and vegetables
Simple switch: stainless steel or glass containers can help reduce plastic in everyday food storage. Photograph: Getty

It all started with a black plastic spatula. When an article went viral in 2024 for suggesting we may be unwittingly infusing our food with harmful chemicals by using one, I, along with many I know, lobbed ours into the bin (without a backup in place, to the annoyance of my partner).

It later transpired that the study the article was based on had miscalculated the dosage by a factor of 10. UK regulations also limit certain hazardous substances in plastics, meaning that risks should be lower in this country. But alas, it was too late for our poor spatula.

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