Harmful Plastic Containers
Plastics containers are widely used in households for storing both liquid and solid products like water, food grains, cooked food etc. They are available in various sizes, colours and prices and attract the eye of the buyer. But, do you know that there are 7 grades of plastic? That some of them leach into food and drinks, affecting human health with increased risk for various diseases? Only plastic containers of grade 5 are microwave safe.
Pet bottles/containers (Grade 1), though popularly used by consumers for storing water, beverage and food, could cause carcinogens to leach into food when heated.
Polycarbonate (Grade 7) contains highly toxic bisphenol A (BPA), which easily breaks down and leaches. BPA is linked to numerous health problems, including cancer and neurological disorders. Companies use ‘BPA free’ label but the container may have ‘BPS’, which has similar harmful effects on health.
Take-away food in plastic containers is gaining popularity. Same containers are generally used in microwave to heat the food at the time of serving. This practice is fraught with dangers.
Some of the suggestions made by Consumers India to protect consumers from the health hazards associated with plastic containers are given below:
The symbols regarding grades of plastics are so small that it is very difficult to read them. They need to be larger in size so that they can be easily identified by consumers. Also, awareness in this regard has to be disseminated.
Similarly other symbols related to use of plastic containers need to be prominently displayed.
Existing laws need to be reviewed and enforced properly. Also, regulatory authorities should test product samples from the market frequently. Strict penal action should also be taken against defaulters to ensure that harmful chemicals do not reach consumers. more
Pet bottles/containers (Grade 1), though popularly used by consumers for storing water, beverage and food, could cause carcinogens to leach into food when heated.
Polycarbonate (Grade 7) contains highly toxic bisphenol A (BPA), which easily breaks down and leaches. BPA is linked to numerous health problems, including cancer and neurological disorders. Companies use ‘BPA free’ label but the container may have ‘BPS’, which has similar harmful effects on health.
Take-away food in plastic containers is gaining popularity. Same containers are generally used in microwave to heat the food at the time of serving. This practice is fraught with dangers.
Some of the suggestions made by Consumers India to protect consumers from the health hazards associated with plastic containers are given below:
The symbols regarding grades of plastics are so small that it is very difficult to read them. They need to be larger in size so that they can be easily identified by consumers. Also, awareness in this regard has to be disseminated.
Similarly other symbols related to use of plastic containers need to be prominently displayed.
Existing laws need to be reviewed and enforced properly. Also, regulatory authorities should test product samples from the market frequently. Strict penal action should also be taken against defaulters to ensure that harmful chemicals do not reach consumers. more
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Thanks Mohit Ji for valuable information. Please give grade-wise plastic containers' utility (where it can be used) and prohibition (where it must not be used). more
Jul 06
Please give the be details of plastic grades so that we can control our use of plastic container more
Jul 06
Plastic usage is very convenient in numerious application. We citizen need to stop single use plastic, we Indians need act of prevension of single use plastic with heavy penalty when defied. Learning of hermful effect on food storage and warning similar to tobaco is the need, again through legislation on packeging / producers. more
Jul 05
