Safety of plastics used to hold foods
Martin Bucknavage - April 9, 2008
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical building block that is used primarily to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. There has been a lot of discussion regarding the safety of polycarbonate bottles and epoxy lined cans containing this chemical. Scientific studies have shown that minute levels of BPA will migrate into the food, especially upon heating. So how much is too much? While government organizations such as EPA and European Food Safety Authority have set limits, some feel that concentrations lower than these established standards can have an effect on humans, especially infants and fetuses.
The best recommendation is to avoid heating food or water in plastic, especially if the container is not designated microwave safe.
If you have a concern about BPA, this article from WebMD gives recommendations on how to avoid BPA.
And, this view from the American Chemical Society gives perspective on why the industry feels safe in using this chemical.
Download this table to see what the number codes on the bottom of plastic bottles mean.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical building block that is used primarily to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. There has been a lot of discussion regarding the safety of polycarbonate bottles and epoxy lined cans containing this chemical. Scientific studies have shown that minute levels of BPA will migrate into the food, especially upon heating. So how much is too much? While government organizations such as EPA and European Food Safety Authority have set limits, some feel that concentrations lower than these established standards can have an effect on humans, especially infants and fetuses.The best recommendation is to avoid heating food or water in plastic, especially if the container is not designated microwave safe.
If you have a concern about BPA, this article from WebMD gives recommendations on how to avoid BPA.
And, this view from the American Chemical Society gives perspective on why the industry feels safe in using this chemical.
Download this table to see what the number codes on the bottom of plastic bottles mean.
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