Silicone cake molds: they release toxic substances, warns the UFC Que Choisir

Practical for avoiding the addition of materials and for obtaining cakes of different shapes, silicone molds are particularly popular during festive periods. Alas, they would be far from being a panacea for health, deplores the UFC Que Choisir (Source 1).

The consumer defense association has just published an exclusive test on several silicone molds, which reveals that a large majority of them can “contaminate food at very high levels or contain particularly harmful substances”.

UFC Que Choisir focused on 29 molds marketed in France, in stores and/or on the Internet, and measured the nature and evolution of the quantities of substances emitted during three successive firings in the oven. “Most of the molds tested let substances migrate into the food in high quantities, even in some cases particularly dangerous substances”, deplores the association. In details, 23 out of 29 mussels are deemed unsafe by the UFC Que Choisir, because of the substances they release. For some mussels, the maximum limit provided for by French regulations for all of the offending substances is largely exceeded, while other mussels see the levels of substances emitted increase over cooking.

Regarding the brands to avoid, the UFC Que Choisir cites in particular the Tupperware mold for 6 mini-cakes, which emits 15 times more substances in the 3rd cooking than in the firstor the Lily Cook and Aliexpress moulds, which release carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances (CMR). Carrefour Home brand mussels should also be avoided. On the other hand, some molds such as the Tefal kit 8 animals 3D Proflex, and Ikea Tartbak diamond would be “virtually inert to food”, assures Que Choisir.

In view of these results, the Consumers’ Association calls on the European authorities to define “without delay” a strict regulatory framework. It also asks the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) to strengthen its controls on these products.