Everyone is talking about plastics these days. We are all shocked to learn in recent news reports that most Nalgene water bottles (which we have been using because we thought they were healthier and better for the environment!) are made of #7 plastic and contain Bisphenol-A (BPA), known to cause cancer and infertility! I started thinking about plastics in my home after hearing and reading about this news and realized just how many plastic items we use in our daily lives! We are addicted to plastic! I decided to do some research on the Internet to try to figure out just what is safe and what isn't, so I could make better choices for my family. This is what I learned:
#3, #6 and #7 should be avoided. Most of them contain Bisphenol-A (BPA) that will leach into your food or drink. These are usually very hard, transparent plastic containers, like nalgene water bottles , baby bottles and 5 gallon water cooler jugs. Many tin cans are lined with BPA containing plastics, with soup and pasta being among the highest levels tested. Some food wraps are made from number #3 (Reynolds Wrap & Saran Wrap Classic)
#1 plastic should only be used ONE TIME. This a a very thin plastic that is meant for one use, then it starts to decompose once exposed to cleaners and bacteria from human contact. This plastic is commonly used for store bought water and soda bottles and should be recycled and never reused.
#2, #4 and #5 are the safest plastics. They are usually soft (like gladware) and often opaque in color (like tupperware, yogurt and cottage cheese containers). Most baggies and many plastic wraps are made from #4 - but not all, so you need to check. (see link below) Although these plastics are safer, they should still never be heated.
Plastic Safety Tips:
- Replace your plastic reusable water bottle with a stainless steel or aluminum bottle. (Sigg seems to be the preferred choice, Klean Kanteen is another to check out.) Be sure your metal bottle is not lined with a dangerous plastic!
- NEVER heat food in plastic. Heating plastic releases the toxins many times faster then your food absorbs it like a sponge. Opt for glass or ceramic dishware for microwave use and for storage whenever possible (i.e. Pyrex). If you use plastic wrap to cover a dish when microwaving, be sure the plastic wrap does not touch your food!
- When possible, and especially if you are pregnant and when feeding a young child, limit the amount of canned food in your diet.
- If you're formula feeding you infant, consider using powdered formula packaged in a non-steel can. Also choose baby bottles made of glass (best) or the safer plastics listed above. If you choose plastic, NEVER heat the bottle. Instead, heat the formula or milk in a glass measuring cup then pour it in the bottle.
- If you choose to continue to use polycarbonate bottles (Nalgene type), avoid using old, scratched ones. The damage and age increase the speed in which the BPA leaches into your food.
- Use this Plastic Products at a Glance chart at to shop smarter when buying plastic. Try to avoid buying food packaged in cling wrap plastics, since you don't know what it's made of. If you do purchase it, unpackage it when you get home, scrape of the outer layer if possible (i.e. if it's cheese cut a thin layer off where the plastic touched the cheese), and repackage it in a safer container.
I hope this helps some of you to make better choices when it comes to plastics and their use. I know I feel much more empowered after all my research!
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