Safer Plastic Containers

The Backstory What To Look For Safer Storage Products Plastics to Avoid Safer Use of Plastics for Storage Resources and References

The Backstory
Take a look at the shelves of packaged food items at your local grocery store and you'll notice that most of the food we buy comes in contact with plastic. Margarine, yogurt, cream cheese and ice cream packaged in plastic cartons; frozen dinners on plastic trays and frozen vegetables in plastic bags; cheese, deli sandwiches and fruits and vegetables wrapped in cling wrap; juice, water and oil in plastic bottles; even food packaged in paper is often wrapped up in plastic first. In fact, since 1976 plastic has been the most widely used material in the United States. No wonder Newsweek chose plastic as one of the greatest innovations of the millennium. However, not all plastics are created equal, and some are safer to use than others, especially when it comes to food packaging and storage. While plastic food wraps and containers play an important role in protecting us against the dangers of foodborne illnesses, recent studies show that when certain plastics come into contact with foods, some questionable chemicals migrate from the packaging to the foods they contain. In addition, because of the chemicals used during the manufacturing process, plastic poses threats to our environment and to the health of the workers who produce it.

Environmental Issues
Pollution Considering that plastics are made from non-renewable petroleum and natural gas, it's not surprising to know that plastic manufacturing is a major source of industrial pollution. Producing a 16-oz. #1 PET bottle, for instance, generates more than 100 times the toxic emissions to air and water than making the same size bottle out of glass. The Berkeley Plastics Task Force stated in a 1996 report that the plastic industry contributed 14 percent of the most toxic industrial releases--including styrene, benzene and trichloroethane--into the air. Other major emissions from plastic production processes include sulfur oxides and nitrous oxides (both of which contribute to global warming), methanol, ethylene oxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Plastics Are Forever When the plastics we throw away escape from garbage trucks or landfills, they get blown into trees and waterways where they're eaten by animals that mistake them for food. In the North Pacific, a floating island of plastic waste the size of Texas has accumulated, doubling in size over the past six years. Some estimates place the load of plastic floating in that area, killing both birds and aquatic life, at 3 million tons.

The matter is further complicated by the fact that nothing in nature, not even sunlight and oxygen, can break apart the bonds that hold plastic together, so they linger on our planet indefinitely. Rather than biodegrading, plastic photodegrades into dust, winding up in soil and in the air. In bodies of water, the plastic particles become a kind of toxic sponge, absorbing other harmful chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the pesticide DDT. Those particles then get eaten by fish, which wind up back on our dinner plates. Recycling Despite the problems with plastic, virtually all types can be recycled and used a few times before losing integrity (when the material has become too weak to recycle any more). However, confusing municipal recycling laws and limited access to recyclers who accept all types of plastic have kept recycling rates low and the amount of plastic waste in landfills high--and getting higher. In 2006, a mere 6.9 percent of plastic garbage we generated was recycled. On a positive note, more stores are beginning to accept plastic bags for recycling, and other companies are offering to take back used plastic products. For instance, Styrofoam packing peanuts can be taken to any UPS store for reuse, and Stonyfield Farm accepts all its #5 PP yogurt cups and tubs back, reselling them to Preserve, a company that manufactures toothbrushes and reusable plastic dishes from the discarded cups.

Personal Health Issues

Dioxins Dioxins, which are highly toxic even at low doses, are produced when #3 PVC plastics are manufactured and incinerated. The EPA estimates that the average American's risk of contracting cancer from dioxin exposure may be as high as one in 1,000--1,000 times higher than the government's current "acceptable" standard of one in a million. Dioxins are also endocrine disruptors, substances that can interfere with the body's natural hormone signals, and they can damage the immune system and may affect reproduction and childhood development. Furthermore, dioxins build up in animal fat, and we may be exposed to them when drinking fatty meats, whole milk or full-fat yogurt. Phthalates Most cling-wrapped meats, cheeses and other foods sold in delis and grocery stores are wrapped in PVC. To soften #3 PVC plastic into its flexible form, manufacturers add "plasticizers" during production. Traces of these chemicals, known as adipates and phthalates, can leak out of PVC when it comes in contact with foods, especially hot, fatty foods. Adipates and phthalates have been shown to cause birth defects and damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive systems in mice. One phthalate, di-2-ehtylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen, according to a 2000 National Institutes of Health (NIH) report. Phthalates are also suspected of interfering with hormones and the reproductive development of baby boys. Bisphenol A Many #7 polycarbonate bottles (including baby bottles), microwave ovenware, eating utensils and plastic coatings for metal cans are made with bisphenol A (BPA). Many studies have found that BPA interferes with hormones, as phthalates do, and a March 1998 study in Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) found that BPA simulates the action of estrogen when tested in human breast cancer cells. A growing number of scientists are concluding, from animal tests, that exposure to BPA in the womb raises the risk of certain cancers, hampers fertility and could contribute to childhood behavioral

problems such as hyperactivity. A January 2006 EHP study on mice indicated that BPA alters the function of mouse pancreatic cells, which produce insulin, suggesting that the chemical may enhance the risk of developing Type II diabetes. Finally, an early 2007 study on BPA in rats found that it led to increased growth, suggesting that the chemical might trigger obesity. Antimony Not as dire a concern as BPA or phthalates, the heavy metal antimony has been found to leach out of #1 PET plastic water bottles that have been sitting on a shelf for long periods of time. High levels of antimony can cause vomiting and diarrhea, but the amount in water from a PET bottle will likely be low enough to not cause such effects. However, it's still a good idea to not reuse #1 PET bottles to avoid any potential antimony exposure.

What To Look For

Plastic is the most widely used material in the United States, and it crops up in everything from toys to clothes to food containers. But not all plastics are created equal, particularly in regards to food storage: Some plastics can transmit chemicals into your food, while others are perfectly safe. Before you know which type of plastic container to buy the next time you hit the store, you first need to know how to tell them apart. Plastics are typically classified by a number from #1 to #7, each number representing a different type of resin. That number is usually imprinted on the bottom of your container; flip it upside down, and you'll see a recycling triangle with the number in the middle. Here's a quick breakdown of plastic resin types: Plastics are typically classified by one of seven recycling codes, indicating the type of resin used (the code is usually found at the bottom of containers and bottles), as follows: #1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) #2 high density polyethylene (HDPE) #3 polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC) #4 low density polyethylene (LDPE) #5 polypropylene (PP) #6 polystyrene (PS) #7 other (usually polycarbonate) Products: Soft drink bottles, medicine containers Products: Toys, bottles for milk, water, detergent, shampoo, motor oil Products: Pipe, meat wrap, cooking oil bottles Products: Wrapping films, grocery bags Products: Syrup bottles, yogurt tubs, diapers Products: Coffee cups, clam-shell take-out containers Products: Medical storage containers, some Nalgene water bottles

Safer Storage Products Plastics and Others

#2HDPE, #4LDPE and #5PP - These three types of plastic are the healthiest. They transmit no known chemicals into your food and they're generally recyclable; #2 is very commonly accepted by municipal recycling programs, but you may have a more difficult time finding someone to recycle your #4 and #5 containers.

#1 PET - #1 bottles and containers are fine for single use and are widely accepted by municipal recyclers. You won't find many reusable containers made from #1, but they do exist. It's also best to avoid reusing #1 plastic bottles; water and soda bottles in particular are hard to clean, and because plastic is porous, these bottles absorb flavors and bacteria that you can't get rid of. PLA - PLA (polylactide) plastics are made from renewable resources such as corn, potatoes and sugar cane and anything else with a high starch content. The starch is converted into polylactide acid (PLA). Although you can't recycle these plant-based plastics, you can compost them in a municipal composter or in your backyard compost heap. Most decompose in about twelve days unlike conventional plastic, which can take up to 100 years.

Safer Containers: The List

Safer plastics--#2HDPE, #4LDPE, and #5PP When choosing plastic containers, even those you'll use over and over again, choose those that are accepted for recycling in your area. Although #1 PETE is one of the most commonly recycled types, there are no containers designed for re-use made from it, and one should never re-use single-use #1 plastic bottles because their design doesn't lend itself to proper cleaning and the bottles can harbor bacterial growth. There are, however, a number of reusable containers made from another commonly recycled plastic, #2 HDPE. Number #4 LDPE and #5PP plastics, although not as widely recycled, are also good choices since, as with #2, most research has not shown leaching of any carcinogens or endocrine disruptors. Some bread and frozen food bags and squeezable bottles are made out of #4 plastic and some ketchup bottles and yogurt and margarine tubs are manufactured from #5 plastic. Biodegradable plastic Recent technological developments have led to the developments of plastics made from corn. These corn-based resins are derived from various chemicals, one of them being polylactide (PLA), which is decomposed by bacteria when composted. While bags made of PLA look, feel and smell like normal plastic bags, in about twelve days, more than half the bag will have broken down, unlike conventional plastic bags, which can take up to 100 years to decompose. The range of biodegradable plastic storage products is expanding within the commercial sector, and companies and consumers are quickly realizing the cost and environmental benefits of this type of packaging. In the States, the Wild Oats Market chain has replaced conventional plastic containers used for bulk foods with PLA containers. Recently, Biota water, Naturally Iowa dairy, Newman's Own and the natural foods retailer Earth Fare have begun using the PLA produced by Cargill Dow-offshoot NatureWorks LLC. While use and availability of these products is primarily in the commercial sector, their initial success suggests we can look forward to home products like food storage containers and plastic wrap in the near future. Currently, biodegradable garbage bags, disposable dinnerware--plates, cups, flatware and straws--are available for home use. For online retailers of biodegradable plastics, see "Resources." Glass, Ceramic and Stoneware Glass, ceramic and stoneware are the safest options when it comes to food packaging and storage because they do not leach any questionable chemicals when in contact with food. Unlike plastic recycling, which produces toxic chemicals, glass recycling is more environmentally friendly. Seek out these glass, ceramic and stoneware products instead of plastic to ensure that your food will not come in contact with toxic chemicals when stored or heated:

Anchor Hocking Barrel Jar with Aluminum Lid Anchor Hocking Blue Cracker Jar Anchor Hocking Georgian Canister Anchor Hocking Heritage Hill Canister Anchor Hocking Penny Candy Canister Bormioli Fido Storage Jar Bormioli Pitcher Bormioli Round Storage Container Bormioli Square Storage Container Bormioli Rectangular Storage Container Bormioli Storage Cylinder Bormioli Save & Serve Plate Clay Design Coffee Canister Clay Design Popcorn Canister Libbey Storage Bowl Libbey Pumpkin Candy Jar Pyrex Glass Food Storage Containers Resourceful Products Mini Jar Canister Aluminum and Stainless Steel Food storage containers made of aluminum are an alternative to plastics because aluminum is recyclable, relatively inexpensive and offers even heating capability. However, aluminum extraction is extremely energy intensive, so reusing old pots is encouraged. Aluminum can sometimes react with certain foods or impact a metallic taste, so use them for storing foods with a low acid content. Containers made from stainless steel are an environmentally friendly choice not only because the material is 100-percent recyclable but also because stainless steel is easy to clean without any harsh chemicals. Stainless steel is also inexpensive, attractive and will not react with foods during cooking. When storing or heating foods, look for the following aluminum and stainless steel products. However, never use a microwave to heat food in metal containers. Doing so could spark a fire. Corning Bowls Correlle Bowls Emily Henry Bowls Gear County Bowls Ingleman Bowls Johnson Brothers Storage Jars Johnson Brothers Bowls Klean Kanteen's Stainless Steel Water Bottles Klean Kanteen's To-Go Ware Pillsbury Storage Jars Pfaltzgraff Storage Jars Reston Lloyd Bowls Sigg's Stainless Steel Water Bottles Wedgewood Bowls Food Containers (#5) When plastics are the only choice for food storage, look for options with recycling codes #1 PETE, #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE and #5 PP (on the bottom of containers).These are frequently recycled plastics which have not been found to leach toxins into your food. Below you'll find The Green Guide's list of suggestions.

BestYet Storage Containers Gladware Containers Gladware Store 'n Eat Rubbermaid EZ Topps Rubbermaid Cereal Keeper Rubbermaid Takealongs* Rubbermaid Seal 'n Save * Rubbermaid Pour 'n Save* Rubbermaid Servin' Saver* Tupperware Bowls (all) Tupperware Crystal Wave Microwave Containers Tupperware Modular Mates Ziploc Snap 'n Seal Ziploc Table Tops Bowls Food Containers (#2) Tupperware FreezeSmart Food Packaging and Storage (#4) BestYet Clear Plastic Wrap Glad Cling Wrap Glad Food Storage Bags Glad Freezer Bags Glad Sandwich Bags Hefty Baggies Hefty OneZip Slider Bags Saran Cling Plus Ziploc Bags Ziploc Double Guard Freezer Bags Food Storage (Glass) Pyrex Glass Food Storage Containers Baby Bottles (#5) Rubbermaid Chuggables Bottles* Rubbermaid Sippin' Sport Bottles* Evenflo Colored Baby Bottles Evenflo Baby Bottles (opaque, pastel) Gerber Baby Bottles (colors) Medela Baby Bottles Baby Bottles (Glass) Lamby Glass Baby Bottles Evenflo Glass Baby Bottles Bottled Water and Beverage Containers Most 1, 1.5 and 2 liter bottled water containers are made from #1 and #2 plastic #4 Brita Fill & Go Water Filtration Bottle #2 Rubbermaid Pitchers (colors)* #5 Rubbermaid Chuggables Bottles* #5 Rubbermaid Sippin' Sport Bottles* #5 Rubbermaid Cool Contours "Chug" Style Bottles*

#5 Rubbermaid Water Bottles* *Rubbermaid lids and bases are made of two different kinds of plastics with two different resin recycling codes: the lids are a #4 and the bases are #5.

Product Comparisons
Below is a table of plastic containers made from safer #2, #4 and #5 plastics organized by intended purpose. Name Glad Freezer Bags Glad Sandwich Bags Hefty Baggies Hefty OneZip Slider Bags (Gallon Size) Ziploc Freezer Bags Ziploc Sandwich Bags Glad Cling Wrap Glad Pressn Seal Sealing Wrap Saran Cling Plus Ziploc Containers (all) Arrow Colored Measuring Cups Farberware 9-cup Marinade Dishes OXO Folding Cutting Boards Tupperware Double Colanders Tupperware Measuring Cups and Spoons Impact Stackrack Jug 5 Gal. Nalgene 16-oz. HDPE Loop-Top Bottles Nat-UR Harvest Collection Cups Playtex Spill-Proof Cups (lids #2) Playtex Straw Cups Rubbermaid 2-qt. Servin' Saver Mixing Pitcher Rubbermaid 3-gal Insulated Beverage Containers and Dispensers Rubbermaid 8.5 oz Litterless Juice Boxes Rubbermaid Chug Sport Bottles Rubbermaid Gallon Covered Pitchers Rubbermaid Sipper Seal Rubbermaid Sippin Sport Bottles Soma Fabrications 22-oz Water Bottles Sterilite Plastic Tumbler Sterilite Ultraseal Pitchers Tupperware Mickey Ice Tups Set Carlisle Store 'N Pour Gallon Farberware 10-piece Mini-Fridge Kits Farberware 23-piece Azure Blue Sets GladWare Containers and Lids (all sizes) Plastic Hinged Locking-Lid Containers Rubbermaid (all food storage containers) Sterilite 8 Piece Covered Bowl Set TYPE OF PLASTIC #4 LDPE #4 LDPE #4 LDPE #4 LDPE #4 LDPE #4 LDPE #4 LDPE #4 LDPE #4 LDPE #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #2 HDPE #2 HDPE PLA #5 PP #2 HDPE #5 PP #2 HDPE #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #2 HDPE #2 HDPE #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP PLA #5 PP #5 PP PURPOSE Bags Bags Bags Bags Bags Bags Cling Wrap Cling Wrap Cling Wrap Cooking/Baking Cooking/Baking Cooking/Baking Cooking/Baking Cooking/Baking Cooking/Baking Drinks Drinks Drinks Drinks Drinks Drinks Drinks Drinks Drinks Drinks Drinks Drinks Drinks Drinks Drinks Drinks Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage MSRP $2.29 $2.29 $6.95-$12.95 $2.99 $4.39/30 $3.29/100 $2.99 $5.99 $2.69 $3.29-$3.53 $3.29/5-pc. set $5.99 $14.99 $20 $12.50-$15.50 $2.99 $4.53 $24/50 $6.99 $4.85 $5.99 $28.95 $2.99 $4.20 $5.29 $5.99 $5.49 $7.99 $0.50 $2.21-$3.99 $19.50 $5.60 $17.99 $19.99 $3.49-$5.59 $8.50/50 $5.99-$10.99 $6.29

The Container Store Rectangular Klip-It Food Storage The Container Store Smart Flap Food Storage Rectangles The Container Store Tellfresh Oblong Food Storage The Container Store Tellfresh Screw-Top Food Storage The Container Store Tellfresh Snack Box Tupperware Bowls (all) Tupperware Fridge Stackables Sets Tupperware FridgeSmart Containers Tupperware Modular Mates Tupperware One Touch Reminder Canister Tupperware Prep Essentials Cold Cut Keepers Tupperware Quick Shake Containers Tupperware Spin N Save Salad Spinners

#5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #2 HDPE #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP #5 PP

Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage Food Storage

$2.49-$12.99 $4.49-$4.99 $1.99-$5.49 $2.49-$3.49 $5.99 -$17 $12-$26 $9.00 $39.50/4 $23 $11 $42

Plastics to Avoid
#3 PVC - #3 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is often used frequently in cling wraps for meat. However, PVC contains softeners called phthalates that interfere with hormonal development, and its manufacture and incineration release dioxin, a potent carcinogen and hormone disruptor. Vinyl chloride, the primary building block of PVC, is a known human carcinogen that also poses a threat to workers during manufacture. #6 PS - Extruded polystyrene (#6 PS; commonly known as Styrofoam) is used in take-out containers and cups, and non-extruded PS is used in clear disposable takeout containers, disposable plastic cutlery and cups. Both forms of PS can leach styrene into food; styrene is considered a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It may also disrupt hormones or affect reproduction. #7 PC - #7 Polycarbonate (PC) is found in baby bottles, 5-gallon water bottles, water-cooler bottles and the epoxy linings of tin food cans. PC is composed of a hormone-disrupting chemical called bisphenol A, which has been linked to a wide variety of problems such as cancer and obesity. Choose instead: #1-PETE #2-HDPE #4-LDPE #5-PP

Products to Avoid:
Cups/Plates/Utensils Containers #3 Arrow Clearview Pitcher #6 Arrow Measuring Cups #3 Arrow Sip-a-Mug (body is PVC, cap is PP) #3 Arrow Sip-n-Stor cups #5 Bodum brand plastic cutlery (thick, colored)* #6 Chip'n Dip bowl (Ullman) #5 Gladware containers #7 Intellivent containers with blue lids #6 Kingsman Plastic Cutlery (Maryland Plastic) #3 Marvin the Martian large squeezebottle (Betras USA)

#5 Playtex Spill-Proof Cups #5 Playtex Straw Cups #7 Rubbermaid Clear Classics container bases* #2 Rubbermaid Pitchers (in colors) #5 Rubbermaid EZ Topps #5 Rubbermaid Cereal Keeper #5 Rubbermaid Servin' Saver #5 Rubbermaid Ice Cube bins #5 Rubbermaid Grip 'n Mix Bowls #5 Rubbermaid Bowl Sets #5 Rubbermaid Push 'n Pour Decanters #6 All Styrofoam cups and containers #6 Sweetheart Plastic Cutlery #5 Tupperware bowls (all) #5 Tupperware children's feeding lines #5 Tupperware Crystal Wave Microwave Container #2 Tupperware Freeze-N-Save container #2 Tupperware ice cube tray #2 Tupperware Ice Tups Set #5 Tupperware Impressions line #2 Tupperware Jel-Ring mold #7 Tupperware Meals-in-Minutes Microsteamer base #5 Tupperware Modular Mates #5 Tupperware One Touch Canisters #5 Tupperware refrigerator and freezer products (except those specified here as another plastic) #7 Tupperware Rock N' Serve containers #5 Ziploc containers Food Packaging and Storage Caution: Most cling-wrapped meats, cheeses, and other commercially-wrapped foods in delis and grocery stores are wrapped in PVC. #4 Glad Cling Wrap #4 Glad-Lock bags PVDC Glad Microwave Wrap* #4 Hefty Baggies #4 Hefty OneZip Slider Bags #3 Polyvinyl Films All-Purpose Food Wrap #3 Polyvinyl Films Freeze-tite #3 Polyvinyl Films Stretch-tite #3 Reynolds Wrap #4 Saran with Cling-Plus (formerly Handi-Wrap) PVDC Saran Classic (formerly Saran Wrap) #4 Ziploc bags Baby / Kids' Items Caution: Many baby bottles are polycarbonate; however, they are typically not labeled as such and can only be identified by calling the manufacturer. #7 Avent Baby Bottles #7 Avent Soft Spout Training Cups #5 Evenflo colored Baby Bottles

#7 Evenflo Baby Bottles (clear, untinted) #5 Evenflo Baby Bottles (opaque, pastel) #3 Evenflo Soft Bite Spoon #7Gerber Baby Bottles (clear only) #3 Gerber Clear and Soft Baby Bottle Nipples* #5 Gerber Baby Bottles (colored) #5 Gerber's Fun Grips Spill Proof Cups #5 Gerber 'Lil Sport Bottles Spill Proof Cups #7 Gerber Looney Toons spill-proof cups #7 Gerber Suzy's Zoo spill-proof cups #5 Ideal Temp Feeding Spoons #5 Less Mess Toddler Bowls #5 Less Mess Toddler Spoons #5 Stroll 'N Snack Cups #5 Medela Baby Cups #5 Medela Baby Bottles and feeders #7 Playtex Cherub, Juice and Trainer Cups #7 Playtex Baby Bottles #4 Playtex disposable Baby Bottle Liners #5 Sassy E-Z Grip Cups #5 Sassy E-Z Grip First Feeding Bowls #5 Sassy MAM Spill-Proof Cups #7 Sassy MAM 3-Step Baby Bottles #5 Sip-a-Bowl by Arrow Plastic #5 Temperature Sensitive Forks and Spoons #7 The First Years Baby Bottles #7 The First Years Peek-a-Boo Cups #5 The First Years Sesame Street Trainer Cups #5 The First Years Tumble Mates (Spill-Proof and Trainer Cups) #5 The First Years Winnie the Pooh Trainer Cups #7 Tuppercare Baby Bottles Water Bottles #7 Most 5 Gallon Bottles for water coolers #3 Appalachian Mountain (gallon size) #4 Bell Brand Athletic Squeeze Bottles (colors) #5 Bell Brand Athletic Squeeze Bottles (clear) #5 Rubbermaid Chuggables bottles #5 Rubbermaid Sipp 'N Sport bottles Most 1-, 1.5-, 2-liter (and smaller) beverage bottles are made from #1 or #2

Safer Use of Plastics for Storage

Store Food without Phthalates
Petroleum-based plastics are all over kitchens, from vinyl floor tiles to storage containers and handy wraps. But the phthalates used to soften plastics and vinyl enter the air and our food, affecting the hormones of developing children. Choose phthalate-free, recyclable containers and wraps such as Gladware containers, Tupperware's Freezesmart line and Glad Cling Wrap.

When purchasing cling-wrapped food from the supermarket or deli, slice off a thin layer where the food came into contact with the plastic and store the rest in a glass or ceramic container or wrap it in non-PVC cling wrap. Avoid storing fatty foods, such as meat and cheese, in plastic containers or plastic wrap. Hand-wash reusable containers gently with a nonabrasive soap; dishwashers and harsh detergents can scratch plastic, making hospitable homes for bacteria. A "microwave-safe" or "microwavable" label on a plastic container only means that it shouldn't melt, crack or fall apart when used in the microwave. The label is no guarantee that containers don't leach chemicals into foods when heated. It's best to remove food from plastic containers or wraps and instead microwave the food in glass or ceramic containers. The FDA advises placing microwave-safe plastic wrap loosely over food so that the steam can escape. Plastic wrap should not directly touch your food. The USDA warns on its website against microwaving in single-use containers not intended for cooking, such as takeout platters or margarine tubs. Never use plastic storage bags, grocery bags, newspapers or aluminum foil in the microwave.

Microwaves

Reducing Your Use of Plastic

We could all do with a little less plastic in our lives, no matter the type of resin. All plastics are made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource, and produced under extremely energy-intensive conditions, so here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping:

Always opt for plastic containers that are accepted for recycling in your area. Avoid single-use, non-recyclable disposable packaging, such as Styrofoam meat trays, and clam-shell containers. Buy food in glass or metal containers Bring your own containers to restaurants, if you suspect you might have leftovers. If you do get takeout you'll be eating at home, don't take plastic cutlery or condiment packets. Avoid plastic cooking tools; use stainless steel or wooden utensils instead. Replace your plastic cutting boards with wood. You can spray wooden boards with a mist of vinegar, then with a mix of hydrogen peroxide, to kill bacteria. Take your plastic grocery bags to a local Wal-Mart or Whole Foods to be recycled.

The Extra Step: Write a letter to manufacturers of foods and drinks packaged in unsafe #3, #6 or #7 plastics, and tell them you want products packaged in safe, reusable glass, metal or recycled plastic. You can find a mailing address on their products, by calling their toll-free question/comment line or on their website. And don't stop at the grocery store. Call the owners of your favorite coffee shop, restaurant or cafe and ask them to improve their policies for reusable containers. Some food-service joints fear reprimands from the local Health Department by allowing customers to use their own containers for takeout or for coffee. Find out your health department's stance on the issue and encourage restaurants to be more lenient in their policies.

Resources and References

Resources
For kitchenware: Cooking.com: 800-663-8810, www.cooking.com Frye International: 866-573-3793, www.fyeintl.com Green Earth Office Supply: 800-327-8449, www.greenearthofficesupply.com Instawares Restaurant Supply: 800-892-3622, www.instawares.com Kitchen Emporium: 888-858-7920 www.kitchenemporium.com Kitchen Etc.: 800-232-4070 www.kitchenetc.com Klean Kanteen: 550-342-3900, www.kleankanteen.com Pampered Chef: 888-687-2433, www.pamperedchef.com Reston Lloyd, Ltd.: 703-437-0003 www.restonlloyd.com Reusable Bags (Sigg Water Bottles): www.reusablebags.com Sur la Table: 800-243-0852, www.surlateable.com The Container Store: 888-CONTAIN, www.containerstore.com Tufty Ceramics: www.tuftyceranics.com Tupperware: 800-366-3800, www.tupperware.com For corn-based plastics: BioBag: www.biobagusa.com, 727-789-1646 Green Earth Office Supply: www.greenearthofficesupply.com, 800-327-8449 Greenware: www.pladirect.com, 303-449-1876 Nat-Ur: www.nat-urstore.com Simply Biodegradable: 866-782-2371, www.simplybiodegradable.com For baby bottles and feeders: Medela: 800-435-8316, www.medela.com The Natural Baby Catalog: 888-373-4037, www.kidsstuff.com Vermont Stone Gifts: 803-747-7744, www.vermontstonegifts.com Baby SuperMall: 888-276-6654, www.babysupermall.com

References
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: 888-422-8737 www.atsdr.cdc.gov American Plastics Council: 800-2-HELP-90, www.americanplasticscouncil.org American Plastics Council, "2003 National Post Consumer Plastics Recycling Report," www.plasticsresource.com/s_plasticsresource/pdf.asp?TP=/s_plasticsresource/docs/1700/1646.pdf Friends of the Earth, Plastics Fact Sheet, www.foe.co.uk/pubsinfo/briefings/html/20011220155157.html National Institutes of Health, "Tenth Annual Report on Carcinogens," www.ehp.niehs.nih.gov/roc/tenth/profiles/s087dehp.pdf Science News, "Food for Thought: What's Coming Out of Baby's Bottle?", www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc99/9_4_99/food.htm U.S. Food and Drug Administration, November-December 2002 FDA Consumer "Plastics and the

Microwave," www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fdacplas.html Greenpeace, www.greenpeace.org Ecology Center, "PVC-Free Future: A Review of Restrictions and PVC-Free Policies Worldwide," www.ecologycenter.org Ecology Center, "1996 Report of the Berkeley Plastics Task Force," www.ecologycenter.org/plastics/report1996/report1996_toc.html Environmental Protection Agency, "House Waste Facts," www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/housewaste/src/plastic.htm Environmental Protection Agency, "Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 2001 Facts and Figures," www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/pubs/msw-sum01.pdf Our Stolen Future,"New Science: Uses of Bisphenol A," www.ourstolenfuture.org/newscience/oncompounds/bisphenola/bpauses.htm