According to The Green Guide, a website and magazine committed to greener living, plastics manufactured by LDPE, HDPE, and PP are considered safe when storing food. The Green Guide further certifies that most food storage products from Hefty, Glad, Ziploc, and Saran are also safe for human consumption.
On the other hand, consumers should know more than the few “safe” brands since most corporations have a variety of plastics-based product lines. Polycarbonate (plastic #7) is a material that has been found to leak the hazardous hormone disrupting chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) into food after prolonged usage in Tupperware containers, even though most of these products are safe to use. The polycarbonate-based Tupperware goods to avoid include the Rock ‘N Serve microwave line, TupperCare infant bottle, the Pizza Keep’N Heat container, the Table Collection, and the Meals-in-Minutes Microsteamer.
Also worrisome are containers made of polystyrene (PS, or plastic #6, better known as Styrofoam), which has been linked to skin, eye, and respiratory irritation; depression; exhaustion; reduced renal function; and central nervous system damage. Polystyrene containers are typically used for take-out restaurant orders, which should be emptied into more environmentally friendly containers once they get at home.
Nuking plastic is a highly potent means of transporting toxic and carcinogenic substances. BPA and phthalates may leak into food when wrapped in plastic or in a plastic container and microwaved. Diets high in fat, such as meats and cheeses, are more likely to cause migration than other foods.
Plastic food containers may be replaced with these natural alternatives.
- Corning Ware
- Mason jars
- Enamel-on-steel bowls
- Stainless steel containers
- Glass lock containers
- Pyrex glass containers
- Glass jars can be reused
- Ceramic cookware
- Reusable beeswax wraps
- Natural Parchment paper
