Eco-test silicone baking molds with poisons

Silicone baking molds can release pollutants

11/30/2013

Silicone baking molds are practical and enjoy increasing popularity. Most products are harmless, according to the latest issue of ÖKO-TEST, but some could cause health problems.

Practical baking dishes increasingly popular
Not only now in the run-up to Christmas, hobby bakers like to use silicone baking pans. Even without greasing them, nothing sticks in them. In addition, they are easy to clean and the baked goods can easily be dissolved out. But they have one disadvantage, because some of the forms can cause health problems. As we know silicone in its processed form, it does not occur in nature, but it is only the raw material silicon processed in several steps.

Manufacturers save on health
If the goods are harmless to health, it depends on the so-called tempering. This is an outgassing, which is to ensure that the final product is free of volatile organic compounds. Because these pollutants could go into the baking during baking and have a negative effect on health. It is recommended to rework the molds for four hours at 200 degrees. However, many of the manufacturers seem to have saved themselves this last costly step in recent years, and so in the past kitchen silicone products repeatedly exceeded the legal limits. ÖKO-TEST (issue 12/2013) has now tested twelve of these products that are suitable for baking muffins, cupcakes or other trifles.

Four out of twelve products criticized
Of the products tested, all had met the legal limits, but a few had more traces of the volatile compounds in the pastry after baking than others. For example, for three products, the Silicone Zone Mambo Muffinform, the Ikea Sockerkaka baking cups and the GU Cupcakes Set, it is to be feared that ingredients will be converted into the dough during baking. And the Brinkmann Form for 12 Cakes was negative because of its ingredients in the silicone and contains too much phenanthrene, which is considered carcinogenic for ÖKO-TEST.

Sensitive people can get sick
Consumers who want to be on the safe side should do the annealing themselves, which the manufacturers sometimes omit. For this you pack the molds for four hours at 200 degrees in the oven before the first use and leaves while the kitchen window open. The exposure to volatile organic compounds can cause sensitive people to suffer from the so-called sick-building syndrome. This syndrome could be in „ill“ Buildings occur when their indoor air is contaminated with pollutants. Symptoms include headache, fatigue and decreased performance. (Ad)