Safest plastics for food and beverages

Some plastics are safer to eat and drink from than others. Here's a quick guide to help you make informed choices. If you want to dig deeper, take a look at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy's Smart Plastics Guide (PDF). 

It's worth avoiding the following plastics when you can. You can identify a plastic by looking at the recycling code number that appears inside a triangle at the bottom of many containers.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can leach phthalates, known male reproductive toxicants. It can be identified by code 3. One way to avoid it in the kitchen is by choosing plastic wrap made from polyethylene rather than PVC. If a box is not labeled, find a brand that is or call the manufacturer.

Polystyrene is used in Styrofoam products. It may leach styrene (a neurotoxin) when it comes into contact with hot, acidic, or fatty foods. It's marked with recycling code 6.

Polycarbonate can leach bisphenol-A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor associated with a long list of health concerns. Baby bottles, "sippy" cups, 5-gallon water jugs, and reusable beverage bottles are typically made out of this plastic. Products may be marked with recycling code 7 and/or the letters "PC." It’s important to note that some containers that aren’t made from polycarbonate may also be marked with a code 7 because the category also includes any plastic that doesn’t fit into the 1 to 6 recycling code categories.

In response to the widespread concerns about BPA, baby bottles and other items made from alternative materials are springing up. Experts say stainless steel is your best bet for reusable water bottles right now. ThinkSport and Klean Kanteen are two widely available brands.

The following plastics are considered safest for food storage. Glass and stainless steel are also good options.

Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene (PETE), code 1.

 

High-density polyethylene (HDPE), code 2.

 

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), code 4.

 

Polypropylene (PP), code 5.

 

Here are some tips for using all plastics safely:

• Don't microwave food in plastic containers. Chemicals are more likely to leach out when plastic is heated. "Microwaveable plastic" doesn't guarantee that chemicals won't leach. Cover foods in the microwave with wax paper or a plate. If you do use plastic wrap, then make sure it doesn't touch the food.
• Avoid putting hot foods in plastic containers. Let leftovers cool off before storing them in plastic.
• Take good care of plastics by not washing them with harsh chemicals, and dispose of scratched and worn containers. Research has shown that older, scratched items will leach more, says Kathleen Schuler at the Institute for Agricultural and Trade Policy. (Don't put them in the dishwasher if you want to be completely risk-averse, she suggests.)

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What you need to know about bio-based plastics

We've all heard a lot about the dark side of plastics. Two common criticisms: They're made from petroleum (a non-renewable resource that's in short supply), and they hang around in landfills for centuries.  

You can now buy items such as disposable plates, cutlery, and garbage bags made from corn, potatoes, and other agricultural products instead of oil. These renewable alternatives to petroleum are also designed to break down much more quickly than their typical plastic counterparts.

While there's no denying these are admirable benefits, it's important to take a look at the drawbacks as well.

For example, there are legitimate concerns about displacing food crops to make plastics. The real hope is that eventually most of the products will be made from agricultural waste rather than food crops, says Darby Hoover at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

It's also a good idea to become acquainted with the circumstances in which they'll biodegrade (break down into smaller components). 

Here's what you need to know about buying and disposing of the latest generation of plastics.  

Buying

• Look for products that are entirely bio-based, or are labeled "biodegradable" and "compostable."
• Choose products made from agricultural waste materials such as bagasse (the waste portion of sugar cane crop) when possible, rather than polyactic acid (PLA), a more common option made from corn. 

Disposing

• While bio-plastics do biodegrade, it's unlikely that will happen in a landfill or even your household compost facility. That's because the disposable plates, cutlery, and containers need to be fairly stable so you can use them. In most cases, they need to be sent to commercial composting facilities to biodegrade, says Hoover. Call your local waste management authority to find out if you live in one of the few communities with this option.  
• If not, do not mix bioplastics in with regular plastics for recycling. If you don't have access to a commercial compost facility you should dispose of them with your garbage, says Hoover. Some products do say they can be composted at home. The only way to know for sure if a particular product will break down in your composting system is by trial and error. 

The bottom line? There are definite benefits to bioplastics if you have the means to compost them, especially if they're made from agricultural waste products. You can still make a difference by buying them even if you can't compost properly because you're voting with your dollars for products that aren't made from petroleum. It's up to you to decide whether to cast that vote. >>Read Full Article