If TikTok had you racing to get rid of your black plastic kitchen tools, take a moment to relax — those items may not pose as much of a threat as suggested.

In November, a study went viral — as viral as studies can possibly go — alleging that black plastic kitchen utensils leach significant amounts of toxic flame retardants into food. These substances, supposedly derived from recycled electronics utilized in the production of these tools, raised considerable alarm. However, as reported by Canada’s *National Post*, the study included a striking mathematical error that drastically inflated the perceived risk.

The research aimed to quantify the median level of flame retardant toxins that could seep from black plastic spatulas during cooking. It claimed a figure of 34,700 nanograms per day, which it suggested was dangerously close to the EPA’s daily threshold of 42,000 nanograms. This revelation triggered widespread fear across TikTok and mainstream media, prompting numerous posts encouraging individuals to discard their black plastic utensils. Social media was inundated with videos of users throwing away their kitchen items, amplifying the panic.

Nevertheless, the study’s calculation regarding the EPA limit was inaccurate. According to the *National Post*, researchers determined the 42,000 nanogram limit by multiplying 7,000 (the EPA’s guideline in nanograms per kilogram of body weight) by 60 (the weight of a 60-kilogram, or 132-pound, individual). However, basic arithmetic indicates that 7,000 multiplied by 60 results in 420,000 — not 42,000. This implies that the actual exposure detailed in the study is less than one-tenth of the EPA’s safety threshold.

To clarify, nobody wishes to have toxins in their food — preferably none, of course. But as science communicator Hank Green highlighted on Bluesky, the study’s alarming assertions were mainly sparked by a straightforward mathematical mistake. “Hey, so it turns out that paper on black plastic was a bit blown out of proportion by a simple math error,” Green conveyed.

Toxic-Free Future, the advocacy organization behind the study, acknowledged the error while insisting it doesn’t diminish the study’s overall conclusions. “As mentioned in the published correction, this comparison was not a major point of the study, and the findings, conclusions, and recommendations remain unaffected by this correction,” the group explained in a post on Bluesky.

Thus, while it’s still prudent to approach black plastic utensils with caution, the sensational headlines and TikTok frenzy may have exaggerated the threat. For now, you can feel a bit more at ease knowing that the risk might not be as severe as initially suggested.