Every few weeks, there is another scare. And for every scare, there is at least one other counter-scare. For example, at one time we were warned that pan-cooked burgers might be harmful. Than we were told that broiled burgers might be harmful. And for so long we have been told that we should just eat vegetables and no meats. Now, some diets stress meat as a vital protein component and proclaim pasta and bread as ENEMY #1.

With all of this noise, it is hard to determine which threats are real, and which are to be discarded. In such an environment, I think that most people tend to discard everything. Why bother conforming to the latest health craze, when we will only have change back in two weeks or so?

Now, the latest noise. In late 1998, Massachusetts PIRG, which is a Ralph Nader founded organization that stands for Public Interest Research Group, warned that plastic food packaging should be outlawed. The Report is called "It's Perfectly Clear, The Case Against Food Packaging." If you want to purchase a copy, send $10.00 to MASSPIRG, 29 Temple Place, Boston, Massachusetts.

MASSPIRG initially explains that food wrap essentially belongs in the vinyl family. The scientific name for the polymer common to food packaging is PVC and PVDC. Most PVC is used in construction. In 1994, 7% of PVC sales were for packaging. When used as food packaging, it is often produced as a "cling" wrap, with brand names that are familiar to all of us. In a thicker form, it is used to package soft drink bottles and the like.

According to MASS PIRG, the following concerns have been recently raised about PVC food packaging: (1) PVC may cause cancer; (2) these materials may "migrate" into foods that are packaged in these materials; (3) there are other environmental concerns relating to their incineration and ultimate disposal.

MASSPIRG recommends that PVC no longer be used for food packaging. It has recommended a mixture of educational and protest-related measures to achieve this outcome.

Recently, Tufts University published a Health and Nutrition Letter which also cautions against using plastic when microwaving foods. The study warns that the plastic constituents may migrate into the food during the cooking process. The Letter recommends that food not be microwaved in original plastic packaging, or in old margarine containers, as well as other containers intended for cold foods. Glass, wax paper, parchment and cooking bags are deemed to be preferable.

In addition to the alleged cancer risk associated with plastic wrap and packaging, it is also reported in the Tufts newsletter that certain plastic constituents may be "endocrine disruptors." Apparently, these substances may affect fertility or enhance the chance of contracting cancer.

In response to these concerns, as well as others recently voiced, Georgetown University's Center for Food and Nutrition Policy issued a February 8, 1999 statement suggesting, in effect, that everyone just calm down. It cautions that "extensive research" has found no peer reviewed studies which support the allegation that one of the plastic wrap constituents, DEHA, is an endocrine disruptor. In fact, the statement even warns that the accused DEHA may have been confused with DEHP, which may actually be harmful!

Since fatty foods do appear to absorb DEHA, just about everyone, including Reynolds Metal Products, seems to suggest that we not microwave our food in cling wrap materials. This seems to me to be a common sense response.

The American Plastics Council is not taking any of this lying down. In March 1999, it issued several statements. In general, its position is that plastic packaging is safe and that their benefits more than outweigh any detriments associated with their use.

You have to make your own decision about this issue. Are there real problems, or is this meaningless noise? One thing that everyone seems to agree on is that microwaving in cling wrap, and other plastic containers not approved for this purpose, it probably not the best idea. Doing so infrequently may be harmless, but the repeated practice may be problematic.

So now that we have broken all of 1999's New Year's resolutions, let's make a replacement resolution that we can keep. When we microwave, don't let cling wrap or other unapproved plastic touch your food.

As to the other plastic wrap questions, there is a lot of conflicting information. I am going to monitor this issue, and for now will wait and see.

The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq., and IRED.Com, Inc., will not accept any responsibilty for any reliance on the information in this column or any damages whatsoever resulting from reading this column.