{"hq_id":"hq-p-fod-000066","name":"Aluminum Foil (Standard Cooking Grade)","category":{"primary":"food_contact","secondary":"cooking_material","tags":["aluminum foil","food contact","aluminum leaching","cooking"]},"product_tier":"FOD","overall_risk_level":"moderate","description":"Standard household aluminum foil (alloy 8011 or 1235, >99% Al) used for cooking, wrapping, and food storage. Aluminum leaches into food during cooking, with rates increasing 6-24x in acidic foods (tomato sauce, citrus marinades) and at elevated temperatures. WHO provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) is 2 mg Al/kg body weight. Studies show cooking acidic food in foil at 180-250C can yield 6-40 mg Al per serving, potentially exceeding PTWI for small children in a single meal. Aluminum is a neurotoxicant associated with Alzheimer's disease pathology in animal models, though causal relationship in humans remains debated.","synthesis":{"derived_risk_level":"moderate_to_high","synthesis_confidence":0.5,"synthesis_method":"compound_composition","context_used":"human_infant","context_source":"product_users","exposure_modifier":1,"vulnerability_escalated":true,"escalation_reason":"Infant exposure group","compounds_resolved":1,"compounds_total":1,"synthesis_date":"2026-05-09","synthesis_version":"1.2.0","methodology_note":"exposure_modifier and adjusted_magnitude are computed from ALETHEIA-calibrated heuristics (route × duration × frequency multipliers, clamped to [0.5, 1.4]). Multipliers are directionally informed by EPA Exposure Factors Handbook (2011) and CalEPA OEHHA but are not regulatory consensus. See /api/methodology for full disclosure."},"hazard_summary":{"critical_concern":"Aluminum leaching from foil into food increases 6-24x with acidic foods (pH <4.5) and at cooking temperatures (>150C). A single serving of tomato sauce cooked in foil can yield 6-40 mg Al, compared to WHO PTWI of 2 mg/kg/week (140 mg/week for 70 kg adult, only 30 mg/week for 15 kg child). Children may exceed PTWI from a single foil-cooked meal.","key_hazards":["Aluminum leaching into acidic foods (6-24x baseline in tomato, citrus, vinegar)","WHO PTWI 2 mg Al/kg/week — easily exceeded by children with foil-cooked acidic meals","Aluminum neurotoxicity — association with Alzheimer's pathology in animal models","Temperature-dependent leaching: higher temperatures = greater migration"],"overall_risk":"moderate","primary_concerns":["Neurotoxicant exposure via food","Vulnerable populations (children, renal-impaired)"],"sensitive_populations":"children, elderly, individuals with renal impairment (reduced Al clearance)","exposure_routes":"oral (via food)"},"exposure":{"routes":["oral"],"contact_types":["oral_indirect"],"users":["adult","child","infant"],"duration":"acute","frequency":"regular","scenarios":["Wrapping acidic foods (tomatoes, lemons, vinegar-based marinades) in foil for cooking","Lining baking sheets for oven cooking at 180-250C","Covering dishes for storage in refrigerator","Direct campfire/grill cooking with foil packets"],"notes":"Leaching is minimal for cold storage of non-acidic foods. The concern is specifically cooking acidic or salty foods in foil at elevated temperatures."},"consumer_guidance":{"red_flags":[{"indicator":"Cooking acidic foods wrapped in foil","meaning":"Aluminum leaching increases 6-24x — a single meal can exceed child's weekly tolerable intake","action":"Use glass/ceramic baking dishes or parchment paper for acidic foods"}],"green_flags":[{"indicator":"Used for cold storage of non-acidic foods only","meaning":"Minimal aluminum leaching at room/refrigerator temperature with neutral pH foods","verification":"Safe for wrapping sandwiches, cheese, dry foods"}],"what_to_ask":[],"alternatives":[{"name":"Parchment paper (unbleached)","notes":"Silicone-coated; oven-safe to 220C; no metal leaching"},{"name":"Glass or ceramic bakeware","notes":"Inert food contact; ideal for acidic dishes"},{"name":"Silicone baking mats","notes":"Reusable; food-grade silicone; no metal migration"}],"notes":null},"regulatory":{"applicable_regulations":[{"jurisdiction":"USA","regulation":"FDA 21 CFR 175-178 (Indirect Food Additives)","citation":null,"requirements":"Aluminum foil is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for food contact. No specific migration limits for aluminum.","compliance_status":null,"effective_date":null,"enforcing_agency":"FDA","penalties":null,"source_ref":null},{"jurisdiction":"EU","regulation":"Council of Europe Technical Guide on Metals and Alloys","citation":null,"requirements":"Specific release limit of 5 mg Al/kg food. Applies to repeated use articles (not single-use foil in all member states).","compliance_status":null,"effective_date":null,"enforcing_agency":null,"penalties":null,"source_ref":null},{"jurisdiction":"International","regulation":"WHO/FAO JECFA — Aluminum PTWI","citation":null,"requirements":"Provisional tolerable weekly intake: 2 mg Al/kg body weight (reduced from 7 mg/kg in 2006).","compliance_status":null,"effective_date":"2011","enforcing_agency":"WHO/FAO","penalties":null,"source_ref":null}],"certifications":[],"labeling":{"required_disclosures":[],"prop65_warning":{"required":null,"chemicals":[],"endpoint":null,"notes":null},"ghs_labeling":{"required":null,"signal_word":null,"pictograms":[],"hazard_statements":[],"notes":null},"hidden_ingredients":{"trade_secret_protected":null,"categories_hidden":[],"estimated_count":null,"known_concerns":null,"notes":null},"notes":null},"recalls":[],"regulatory_gap":"No US migration limit for aluminum from foil into food. GRAS status not reassessed since original determination. WHO lowered PTWI from 7 to 2 mg/kg/week in 2006/2011 but US regulation not updated to reflect this.","notes":null},"lifecycle":{"recyclable":true,"disposal_guidance":"Clean aluminum foil is widely recyclable. Remove food residue; ball up into large ball (>5cm) for recycling machinery.","hazardous_waste":false,"expected_lifespan":"single_use"},"formulation":{"form":"solid_sheet","key_ingredients":[{"hq_id":"hq-c-ino-000029","name":"Aluminum (Al, >99%)","role":"base_material","concentration_pct":"99+"},{"hq_id":null,"name":"Iron (Fe, trace alloy)","role":"alloy_component","concentration_pct":"0.1-0.6"},{"hq_id":null,"name":"Silicon (Si, trace alloy)","role":"alloy_component","concentration_pct":"0.05-0.3"}],"certifications":[]},"materials":{"common":[],"concerning":[{"material_id":null,"concern":"Aluminum leaching into food — rates of 0.1-6 mg/L in neutral foods; 6-40 mg/serving in acidic foods at cooking temperatures","compounds_of_concern":["Aluminum"],"source_refs":[]}],"preferred":[{"material_id":null,"material_name":"Glass or ceramic baking dishes","why_preferred":"No metal leaching; inert food contact surface","tradeoffs":"Heavier; breakable; not suitable for wrapping"},{"material_id":null,"material_name":"Parchment paper (unbleached)","why_preferred":"Silicone-coated paper; no metal leaching; oven-safe to 220C","tradeoffs":"Cannot wrap tightly; not suitable for all cooking methods"}]},"compound_composition":[{"hq_id":"hq-c-ino-000029","compound_name":"Aluminum","role":"base_material","typical_concentration":null}],"identifiers":{"common_names":["aluminum foil","tin foil","kitchen foil","cooking foil"],"aliases":[],"manufacturer":null,"brands":[]},"brand_examples":[{"brand":"Generic Mass-Market Brand A","manufacturer":"Consumer Products Corporation","market_position":"mass_market","notable":"Market-leading household aluminum foil"},{"brand":"Generic Mass-Market Brand B","manufacturer":"Consumer Goods Ltd","market_position":"mass_market","notable":"Store-brand aluminum foil"},{"brand":"Premium Brand A","manufacturer":"Premium Kitchen Inc","market_position":"premium","notable":"Heavy-duty premium foil"}],"brand_examples_disclaimer":"Representative branded products of this category. Concerning ingredients listed in materials.concerning[] apply to the category, not necessarily to every named brand. Specific formulations vary by SKU and may have changed since this record was written; consult the brand's current ingredient label before drawing brand-level conclusions.","sources":[{"type":"expert_curation","name":"ALETHEIA Safety Database","date":"2026-03-24"},{"type":"regulation","title":"FDA 21 CFR 175-178 (Indirect Food Additives)","jurisdiction":"USA","id":"src_8a392bd2"},{"type":"regulation","title":"Council of Europe Technical Guide on Metals and Alloys","jurisdiction":"EU","id":"src_b7c68c09"},{"type":"regulation","title":"WHO/FAO JECFA — Aluminum PTWI","jurisdiction":"International","year":2011,"id":"src_001c0b1c"},{"id":"atsdr_aluminum_tox","type":"regulatory","title":"ATSDR: Toxicological Profile for Aluminum — Dialysis Encephalopathy, Alzheimer's Hypothesis (Not Supported), Antiperspirant Safety, and Occupational Pulmonary Effects","year":2008,"inherited_from_compound":"hq-c-ino-000029"},{"id":"who_aluminum_water","type":"regulatory","title":"WHO: Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality — Aluminum Background Document (Aesthetic Guideline 0.1–0.2 mg/L, No Toxicological Health-Based Value Established, PTWI 2 mg/kg bw/week)","year":2010,"inherited_from_compound":"hq-c-ino-000029"},{"type":"report","title":"World Health Organization (WHO)","jurisdiction":"International","id":"src_32f00deb","extraction":"description_reference"}],"meta":{"schema_version":"4.0.0","last_updated":"2026-03-24","timestamp":"2026-05-13T22:24:28.227Z"}}