Brown Paper Bags for Popcorn

My local quality save have them with handles. Same thing though.

I've never had any problem with plastic melting in the microwave , popcorn or not  Should I  be worried?

It's the oils in the plastic that seep into your food.... not good for you. I stopped using plastic in microwaves about 5 years ago when I first heard about it.

My father emails me anything remotely cancer causing oriented... in fact, i'm sure he just did last week.....rummaging..

1. No plastic containers in micro.
2. No water bottles in freezer.
3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals causes cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

Edited to say, i'm not trying to scare anyone! But with a lot of cancer related deaths in my family, i'm not willing to risk it.

I have a degree in bachelor's degree in plastics engineering and I have a master's degree in biomedical engineering with a concentration in manufacturing (which included tons of research in biomaterials), so I understand a lot about materials and how they interact with the body as well as how plastics react in the microwave- and a ton of that stuff you posted is easily contradicted and I can pull up tons of chemistry and polymer science, physiology, and biochemistry to stake my claim.  But with cancer in your family, I can understand your concern.    Cancer is hugely genetic as well.  There is a lot we don't understand and scientists/doctors have to grasp at whatever makes sense, even if it doesn't- like plastic "leeching" and the microwave.     

phatbeetle: The whole plastics leeching debate is something that I'm very concerned about, especially because I've got two young children who used plastic bottles and plates/utensils their entire lives.

This debate is pretty big here in the US. I know you mentioned that you weren't up for discussing it right now, but if you feel up for it later could you please post your view-point? You're obviously very well-informed.

Thanks!