Aluminum foil and aluminum tray

Aluminum is a light metal which is abundant on earth due to natural circumstances. Humans take in aluminum through food and drinking water as well as through other aluminous consumer products. The weekly tolerable amount incorporated through food that shall not be exceeded according to the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is 1 milligram aluminum per kilogram bodyweight. A considerable transgression of that threshold can have negative effects on the nervous system, bone development or female fertility.

If food is wrapped up in aluminum foil or dishes are prepared in aluminum trays, minimum quantities of aluminum transition into the food. This effect is reinforced through extended contact as well as through baking or grilling. Salt-containing or acidic food incorporates a comparatively large amount of aluminum ions since salt and acids increase the ions’ solubility. Therefore, particularly salty, acidic, or alkaline food should not be prepared or rather preserved in aluminum foil.

This is the case for food that contains a lot of fruit or acetic acid, but also for pretzels treated with lye or salty food like salted herring or feta cheese. Dill pickles, citrus fruits, and stewed fruits are further examples for food that should not come into contact with aluminum foil.

Furthermore, the BfR discourages people from seasoning meat before cooking it in aluminum trays since the seasoning leads to an increased transition of aluminum ions.

An alternative to aluminum foil or aluminum trays that poses no risk to health is the utilization of parchment or separation paper. Besides using the parchment paper for baking, it can also be utilized for cooking meat, fish or vegetables “en papillote”, meaning in tied parchment paper bags. In this way, meat can be seasoned in advance and even salty dishes like feta can be prepared without any concern. The separation paper, on the other hand, is perfectly suitable for storing food like sausages or cheese in the fridge in a manner that ensures no harmless substances transition into the food.

For further information about our parchment and separation papers visit our website www.blechrein.de/en.