ARE PLASTIC FOOD CONTAINERS AND WATER BOTTLES SAFE FOR US TO USE?
The safety of plastic bottles and the plastic lining found in canned foods has attracted the attention of the media, spurred in part by several scientific and regulatory reviews of bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is a chemical commonly used in 1) polycarbonate plastics to make them rigid, shatterproof and heat-resistant, and 2) epoxy resins that coat metal products to help prevent corrosion. Because corrosion could cause leaching of metal or microbial contamination, plastic lining serves an important food safety function. Food-related materials using BPA include reusable plastic bottles and food containers, baby bottles, tableware, microwave ovenware, bottle tops and can liners. Polycarbonate plastic containers are typically hard and clear. The plastic bottles for soft drinks, bottled water and other beverages are predominately PET (#1 recyclable), which does not contain BPA. PET is suited for lightweight, large-capacity and shatter-resistant containers. Tests have shown that any migration of P
