DEAR DR. GOTT:
I recently had a baked potato served to me in a restaurant wrapped in aluminum foil. I also see people wrapping vegetables and meat they have prepared in their own ovens or barbeque grills. Does the aluminum leech into the food? If so, is it toxic to those of us who then eat it?
Please set us all straight.
DEAR READER:
There was an incident in 1994 that caused about two dozen people to be hospitalized in Texas because of botulism. The cause was traced to baked potatoes held in non-perforated foil for 48 hours at room temperature.
I am unaware that baking a potato in foil will cause any harm. When wrapped foods are placed on a grill, the foil acts as an effective barrier to seal in moisture and the juices from meats and vegetables. [Read more...]