Safe Plastics For Food and Drink
June 8, 2010, Submitted by: Ken Tweet
Make an educated decision about which plastics that come in contact and are safe with your food or drink. Look for the Recycle symbol and read the number located inside the symbol. The following list indicates what is generally considered safe versus not safe.
Plastics that are generally considered safe for food and drink
- #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene) *see note below
- #4 LDPE (low density polyethylene)
- #5 PP (polypropylene)
Risky plastics that may leach or have hazardous ingredients
- #3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride) carcinogens during manufacture and incineration
- #6 PS (polystyrene) possible carcinogen
- #7 other (usually polycarbonate, sometimes labeled PC) may leach BPA (Bisphenol-A)
Common single use water bottle or soft drink container
- #1 PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) typical water or soda bottles, not designed for reuse or storage, but if properly cleaned they are OK. Varying reports regarding BPA leaching over time.
Typical 5 gallon food storage containers are made of #2 HDPE, and are opaque, not allowing light to penetrate. The typical ‘blue’ water storage containers or barrels are also made of high density polyethylene (#2 HDPE). Bottom line is to be sure to verify the material before you purchase. Be safe.
*note
To be safe, the buckets that you use for food storage should be food grade (unless you are inserting sealed Mylar bags).
A very important clarification is that all food grade buckets are made of HDPE #2 (high density polyethylene) but not all HDPE #2 buckets are food grade. Buckets that are not food grade will out-gas and leach into the container, and whatever is in the container.
HDPE #2 buckets that are not food grade will have been manufactured with a non-food-grade “mold release agent”.
A mold release agent is what is used to help get the newly shaped plastic off of the hard mold that it was shaped from during the manufacturing process. Without the release agent, the new plastic shape will likely stick to the mold. Some mold release agents enable much faster production than others, but may be toxic to your health if later used with food stuffs.
If the bucket is marked specifically as food grade or USDA approved (or FDA or NSF approved), then it is food grade. Otherwise contact the supplier or manufacturer to confirm.
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Water wise distiller has a hard plastic container that catches the hot water when it’s distilled. Is that safe to use?
Contact the manufacturer for that information. The plastic should be ‘food grade’.
Is the *note above differentiating between buckets (5 gal.) and the blue 55 gallon barrels? In other words, the blue 55 gallon barrels may not be marked with USDA, FDA or NSF, but still safe to store food/water?
Tony, that is a good question. Although the blue colored plastic barrels are generally and indicator that they are ‘supposed’ to be safe for water consumption, I would not assume anything in the real world. There are far too many unscrupulous people who will rip you off at the expense of your health. I would contact the manufacturer. If the distributor won’t give you the mfgr. contact information, then I would shop elsewhere.
I got my 55 gallon barrels at Emergency Essentials. Food grade with sane shipping costs. If I remember correctly the were best price overall.
Be well.
My food-grade 5-gallon pails are also from Emergency Essentials.
I guess.
I got my five gallon buckets at Lowes for $2.54+tax. The lids are crap, don’t bother. Not food safe. Us mylar if it matters. I use gamma lids. Cost twice, or more, than the buckets.
Be well.