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Plastic Food Container Safety.
Summary
Researchers reviewed the safety of plastic food containers, examining how stored food interacts with plastics, plasticizers, and chemical additives. They found that these containers are not completely inert and can leach varying levels of metals and chemicals into foods during storage. The study suggests that consumers should be aware of the potential for chemical migration from plastic containers, particularly under certain storage conditions.
Plastic containers are a huge part of modern life. Perhaps their use is nowhere more significant than in the storage of foods. Stored food comes in contact with plastics, plasticizers, intentional additives, and inadvertent contaminants. Plastic food containers are asserted to be safe, and the resin used in their manufacture is assigned a number to help understand their recyclability. These containers are not totally inert and leach varying levels of metals and chemicals into the foods they store-especially if subjected to elevated temperatures. The safest containers appear to be those made from resins with the ID numbers 2, 4 (except food wraps), and 5. This editorial looks at the various types of plastics used in the manufacture of food containers, their typical contaminants, their toxicity, and the median amount of migration of contaminants into food.