Will paper containers release harmful substances when exposed to high temperatures or come into contact with hot food

Paper food containers are widely used in modern society, especially in food delivery, fast food and convenient food packaging. Compared with traditional plastic containers, paper containers are considered more environmentally friendly and degradable.
The main raw material of paper containers is pulp, which usually comes from wood or other plant fibers. The production process of paper containers usually uses bleaching, drying, pressing and other processes to enhance their strength and appearance. Although these treatments can make paper containers more durable, in some cases, some chemicals such as bleach, dyes, plasticizers, etc. may be added to these processes. In particular, if the chemicals used in the production process do not meet food safety standards, they may migrate into food under high temperature conditions, causing potential health risks.
Bleach and dye are more common chemical ingredients. Bleach is sometimes used to whiten paper, while some dyes are used for color decoration of paper containers. These chemicals may decompose or volatilize under high temperature conditions and enter food. For foods that are often exposed to high temperatures, especially hot meals, greasy foods, or foods containing strong acidic or alkaline substances, the chemical components of paper containers are more likely to be released during contact, which in turn affects the safety and quality of the food.
In the production process of paper containers, modern processes usually use food-grade safety materials, and the surface of the container is treated with waterproof and oil-proof treatments. These treatments usually use food-grade coatings, such as polyethylene or polypropylene films, which can effectively prevent liquids and grease from penetrating into the interior of the paper container, and can improve the strength of the container and prevent the container from deforming due to contact with hot food. However, some coating materials, especially non-food-grade plastic coatings, may decompose at high temperatures, release harmful substances, and contaminate food, especially when the container is exposed to high temperatures for a long time. If these coatings contain unqualified chemical components, there will be certain health risks.
Many paper container manufacturers strictly abide by food safety standards during the production process to ensure the use of coatings and non-toxic chemical components that meet national standards. In addition, when designing food-grade paper containers, the characteristics of different foods will also be taken into account and safer materials will be used. Even so, paper containers still cannot completely avoid the risk of releasing harmful substances due to high temperature or contact with certain foods.
In actual use, especially when paper containers are in contact with hot food for a long time, some surfaces of the containers may soften, deform or crack due to the high temperature, which can easily lead to the release of harmful substances.