A statistical correlation has been found to exist. A cause and effect relationship has not been demonstrated. Normal use of aluminum cookware has not been found to be problematic. It has long been known that acidic food can cause aluminum in cookware to enter solution. However, it takes residence time for dangerous levels to be incorporated, time most likely to be realized through storage. In normal use, there’s no problem with aluminum cookware. However, before the aluminum/Alzheimer’s scare, I remember pitting our aluminum pots- but only when they were stuck in the fridge with leftovers in them.

Assuming all of the chicken is eaten, and I’m sure it is, aluminum pans are not a problem. But if not all the chicken is eaten and it requires storage, it is worthwhile reminding everyone not to store acid foods, such as chicken in that sauce, directly in the aluminum steam-table pans, or covered directly with foil. The acid can and does eat away at the aluminum. Soluble aluminum has been linked to Alsheimer’s, and metal poisoning can also be a serious problem- doesn’t happen often, but the potential is always there. So store only nonreactive foods in disposable aluminum pans.