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About that Plastic Used to Package Your Food

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LDPE Plastic recycling code

Plastic is everywhere:  In our homes, in our schools, in our kids’ toys, even in the pens we inadvertently chew on. Plastic is also in landfills. About 85% is never recycled!

Plastic is how the food industry packages a sizeable percentage of our food. Have you ever noticed the markings on the packaged foods you buy? See above picture, for example.

Plastic can become a health issue because some types may leach toxins into the food we then consume, for example BPA (Bisphenol A) which we have written about extensively.

If you’re like 93% of Americans, you already have BPA in your body.  It gets inside us in various ways – not from plastics alone. For example most canned food has BPA that leached from the lining the inside of the can.

You can rid your body of BPA and other toxins by eating fresh foods that are not canned or packaged in plastic containers. Glass or paper packaging for example. But if you do buy foods packaged in plastic, know that there are many different types. Some are less bad than others. Here is a summary table listing plastic types from least damaging to worst offender. Click on the table to enlarge.

 Plastic Numbers Table

Specifically regarding BPA, here is a partial list of manufacturers that don’t use it:

  • Eden Organic (canned goods)
  • Ella’s Kitchen (fruit puree packs)
  • POMI (Tomato products)
  • POM (juices)
  • Kettle (nut butters)
  • Plum Organics (baby food)
  • Happy Baby (baby food)

What products do you use that are BPA free?

References:
1. Rudel RA, Gray JM, Engel CL, Rawsthorne TW, Dodson RE, Ackerman JM, Rizzo J, Nudelman JL, Brody JG (2011). “Food packaging and bisphenol A and bis(2-ethyhexyl) phthalate exposure: findings from a dietary intervention,” Environ Health Perspect. 2011 Jul;119(7):914-20. Epub 2011 Mar 22.

2. Biello, David (1998). “Plastic (Not) Fantastic: Food Containers Leach a Potentially Harmful Chemical,” Scientific American, February 18, 2008.

3. Rolf U. Halden (2010). “Plastics and Health Risk,” Annual Review of Public Health, Vol. 31: 179-194.

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  • Amanda_lasry

    I’m curious about what is being used to replace the BPA in plastics without it. Any information on the safety of the replacement chemicals in all the “BPA Free” plastics?

  • Pingback: Everything you need to know about the dangers of food packaging | The Rambling Epicure

  • Guest

    Of course, the only safe vessel to contain food is the water buffalo bladder. Anything else will kill you, without a doubt. Even clay pots can be risky, glaze those and you are as good as dead. Oh, woe is us, WOE IS US. We are all doomed to death by food!

  • Jim

    There is nothing much to this BPA scare. It is 100% excreted in the urine. I wrote about this in December. 
    http://www.examiner.com/food-in-new-york/bpa-lurks-cans-of-soup-and-soda

  • kate

    So what exactly makes the difference between the Good (1) vs. OK (2) and (5).  Seems like none of them leach and all of them are recyclable.  What is the difference for the consumer?

    • Heffalump Squirrel

      It shows that the last couple do leach and are only somewhat recyclable. This only affects consumers who care what they’re exposed to and what they’re exposing their children to.

      • kate

        I am asking what is the difference between 1 and 2 and 5.  I can see what the difference is between the rest of them. 

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