Coffee cup lid detoxifies and causes cancer

Coffee cup lid may release carcinogens! A spot check by the Taipei Municipal Health Bureau found that 13 local fast food chains and coffee shops, including the No. 6 PS coffee cup provided by Starbucks in Taiwan, will deform when exposed to heat, fearing the release of chemicals that can cause liver cancer and blood a cancer. Seven local shops still continue to use such lids. Our reporter inspected the Hong Kong market yesterday and found that a number of fast food chains and coffee shops also use similar cup lids. At present, there is no legislation to regulate the materials used for the lid of hot drinks in Hong Kong and Taiwan. members of the catering industry and the Legislative Council hope that the authorities can be included in the scope of supervision to protect the health of the public.

The Taipei Municipal Health Bureau announced yesterday the results of the hot drink plastic cup lid sampling conducted in May. Among the coffee cup lids used in 25 convenience stores and chain coffee shops, it was found that six of them used No. 5 polypropylene (PP) cup lids and the remaining 19 used No. 6 polystyrene (PS) cup lids. The bureau tested the heat resistance of these 19 cup lid samples. As a result, thirteen cup lids deformed when the upper limit of the heat resistance temperature reached 90 degrees Celsius. Officials from the Taipei city government said that the coffee temperature of the test sample ranged from 57 to 78 degrees Celsius, which did not reach the heat resistance limit of the plastic.

Taiwan plans to ban lid No. 6 at the end of the year

Upon completion of the spot check, the shops concerned were advised to switch to No. 5 polypropylene (PP) cup lids. The lid of No. 5 cup is made of acid and alkali resistance and collision resistance, with a heat resistance of 100 to 140 degrees Celsius, but dioxins are released during combustion. The No. 6 polystyrene (PS) cup lid has low water absorption and a heat resistance of 70 to 90 degrees Celsius. Styrofoam made of PS is not perishable and will pollute the environment. Taipei authorities plan to ban it at the end of this year.

After being advised by the Taipei authorities, six local shops that use the No. 6 lid have switched to the No. 5 lid, but seven continue to use the No. 6 lid, including Starbucks, a well-known coffee chain. A spokesman for Starbucks in Taiwan said that since it did not know the details of the heat resistance test, it would first clarify the inspection process, but stressed that the No. 6 cup lid used by consumers would meet the requirements if it was used under normal circumstances. Starbucks in Hong Kong said that the No. 6 cup lid was chosen on the basis of its good safety and quality record.

Our reporter inspected the market in Taipei yesterday and found that some convenience stores used No. 6 coffee cup lid. The reporter also visited major coffee shops and fast food restaurants in Hong Kong and found that most shops used No. 6 cup lid.

Shao Zude, an oncologist in internal medicine, said that plastics are petroleum by-products and foreign molecules to the body. If plastic products deform or show signs of dissolving in water after being filled with hot water, members of the public may drink these hot water or hot drinks, which may be harmful to their health. Long-term consumption of hot drinks containing dissolved plastic will increase the risk of cancer, he added. Chow Cheuk-Fung, a lecturer in the Department of Applied Science of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Sha Tin), explained that when polystyrene is damaged, it will release benzene, which is an extremely dangerous chemical that can cause blood cancer and liver cancer. "benzene will not go when it enters the body. Watching the scare canal stay in the side organ will cause genetic mutation for a long time." Some doctors in Taiwan have also pointed out that benzene is a primary carcinogen in the human body, and studies have shown that benzene is related to blood cancer and liver cancer.

Hong Kong cannot regulate the use of materials by law.

"in the past, the Fehd did not have clear guidelines on what materials, standards or specifications were used for these plastic cup lids!" Huang Jiahe, president of the Hong Kong Restaurant Association, pointed out that at present, most of the cup lids in the market are from Southeast Asia or the mainland, and there are no strict standards for the materials and specifications they choose. It is suggested that the Fehd conduct regular spot checks to establish safety standards. Legislative Councillor Leung Ka-Lau said the government should "find out if there is any danger" to protect the health of Hong Kong people.

A spokesman for the Fehd said that under the Food Business Regulation, all food business operators should make arrangements at all times to keep all furniture, articles, equipment and utensils used in their business clean and free from harmful substances. In response, a restaurant in Hong Kong which uses the No. 6 cup lid will have a stringent system to provide quality service and food to its customers. Some fast food restaurants in Hong Kong also say that the No. 6 cup lids currently in use have undergone internal tests, including the heat resistance test of the cover behind the hot drink cup, and the test results are all qualified, while the output temperature of the general hot drink is about 73 degrees Celsius after it is finished. Meet safety standards.

(responsible Editor:)