You may be eating healthy but are you storing your food and beverage in a healthy manner? Learn how to properly shop for plastic food containers.
I’m sure you’ve heard that plastic can leach into your food. Well, it’s true! Tufts Medical School discovered in 1987 that there was a connection between plastic and cancer. They accidentally discovered this when culturing breast cancer cells in tubes that were made of plastic. The chemicals in the plastic leached into the test tubes causing the cancer cells to grow very rapidly. Numerous studies have since proven this unfortunate link between plastic and cancer.
Since it’s practically impossible to avoid buying food and beverages in plastic, I wanted you to be aware of which plastics are the safest ones for you and your loved ones to use.
The first thing to know is that not all plastics are created equal. Some are highly toxic and volatile while others are safer and more stable. There is a simple way for you to safely buy food and beverages in plastic containers.
How do you choose the healthiest plastic containers for your food and beverage?
All you need to do is look at the bottom of the container in question to see the number that is inside a little triangle. That single digit number tells you if that plastic is safe of not.
Now on to what those numbers mean starting from safest to most dangerous:
Containers with either a 1 or a 2 are the safest and typically found in clear plastic bottles. They are called PETE and HDPE and are safe for storing food and beverages.
Containers with either a 4 or 5 are usually considered safe but if you can use them sparingly or avoid them altogether, that would be best.
Containers with 3, 6, or 7 are the most dangerous ones. They contain BPA that is a dangerous and volatile chemical compound that you always want to avoid.
Tips:
- Never use plastic wrap to cover your food in the microwave. Never use plastic or put plastic containers in the microwave. It would be even better not to use microwaves at all but that will be an article for another time.
- Never leave plastic bottles in the car, especially in the heat.
- Use mason jars for sauces and smaller items.
- Use Pyrex glass containers with lids as storage.
I’m proud to say that my husband and I have replaced all the plastic Tupperware containers in our home with glass ones. It took us a while but investing in your health is well worth it. So, next time you’re out shopping, just remember to look for that #1 and #2 on the bottom of plastic containers. These are the best and safest choices for you and your family. Happy and healthy shopping!
Caroline