Types of Plastics Used with Food
In the early forties there were only a few applications for plastic. Tupperware was the first company to pioneer development of plastics in food containers. Polyethylene, a commonly known type of plastic, was invented around the nineteen thirties and by the late forties Earl Tupper was mapping distribution plans for his already successful company. Since the 1950's plastic has become a thriving industry born out of convenience and increased product demand.
Today's plastic has become such a part of our lives it's everywhere. Plastics hold the food we eat and the water we drink. Plastic is used in our children's toys, our computers, our furniture and the interior of our cars. Plastic is cheap, versatile and convenient. Considering the extensive use, you might be led to believe that plastic is a great product for food, but the reality is that plastic is taking a serious toll on our health and our environment.
Without regulation or rules, manufacturers are not required to place content labels on food packaging products with the exception of bottles. Phthalates (pronounced "th?-l?tes"), used to soften PVC, and Bisphenol-A, used to harden plastic are toxins that can leak out into foods. #3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is the most harmful plastic. It is not suitable for food storage but still can be found in plastic food trays, inside food packaging and in plastic cling wraps, especially deli meats and cheeses.
PVC is also used in plumbing. When used for hot water (or any other application that heats the PVC), PVC leaches out more of its toxic chemicals. This is one reason why many building codes forbid the use of PVC on supply line piping. On a final note: Because it contains a wide variety of chemicals PVC is the most unrecyclable plastic. PVC melts into a gas that is corrosive. This can ruin recycling machines, not to mention the health and environmental dangers.
Our everyday plastics are made from synthetic or partially synthetic materials including petroleum. Plastic is harmful at every stage of its lifecycle from extraction to processing the plastic to disposing it in landfills or incineration. Manufacturing plastic involves introducing petrochemicals into the air and producing water-toxic byproducts. We are not suggesting that you throw away all your plastic but we do suggest that you learn about plastics to help you choose plastic products more wisely.
What do the numbers on plastics mean?
Most plastics have a number stamped on the bottom from 1 to 7 that tells what kind of plastic it is. Some can be recycled. Not all plastics have numbers stamped on them and not all plastics are recycled. Different kinds of plastics are used for different purposes. The scary part is that all types of plastics are used for food with some being more harmful than others. Knowing what the numbers mean can help you steer away from the more harmful plastics.
The Numbers on Plastics
| TYPE |
HAZARD LEVEL |
TYPE OF PLASTIC |
| 1 PETE |
safer |
Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene - Used for water, soda, beverage bottles, shampoo bottles, detergent and peanut butter containers |
| 2 HDPE |
safer |
High density polyethylene - Used in milk jugs and milky colored food bottles, bleach bottles, detergent and cleaning product bottles |
| 3 PVC |
danger |
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or vinyl chloride - Used in plastic cling wraps, cooking oil containers, softer drink bottles and squeezable bottles, food trays like plastic cookie trays inside boxes |
| 4 LDPE |
safer |
low density polyethylene - Used in food storage bags, plastic wrap, grocery store bags and some soft bottles |
| 5 PP |
safer |
Polypropylene - Used in food containers and tubs, plastic squeeze bottles, baby bottles, eating bowls and cups |
| 6 PS |
danger |
Polystyrene - Used in Styrofoam clam shell containers (take out boxes), some plastic cutlery |
| 7 OTHER |
danger |
usually polycarbonate or other plastic - Used in 5 gallon jugs, some metal can linings and some baby bottles, plastic kitchen ware, sippy cups, sport water bottles |
| 7 PLA |
safer |
polyactic acid and other bio based plastics that are biodegradable made from sugar cane and corn. Used as a safer alternative to the other plastics because it is biodegradable |
Something to be aware of is that heating foods in plastics can cause greater amounts of toxic chemicals to leach into foods, especially in fatty foods. Not to worry - you can avoid the more harmful plastics by making simple changes in your daily routines. Start by going through your kitchen and identifying the more dangerous plastics such as #3, #6 and #7. Simply by removing these from contact with food you can reduce your risk of exposure to toxic chemicals. By making safer plastic choices and buying food storage containers made of glass, you help keep the environment cleaner and your family safer.
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