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Is plastic food safe? What types of plastics can be used in food packaging? What makes a plastic container food grade? These are some of the most common questions asked by consumers (and our customers!) and that our team is always happy to answer!
Plastics are a huge part of our daily lives and are found in everything from cars, offices and houses to mobile phones, computers and, of course, our food and drink containers. As leading suppliers of bulk food packaging to the food industry, we’re experts in food-grade packaging and stock and supply a range of bottles, tubs, pails, jars and jerry cans that are perfect for use in your food processing and contract filling operations.
Continue reading as we reveal the answers to the most asked questions surrounding the use of plastics in food packaging and how Cambrian’s top quality products and first class services can help you find the perfect food-grade packaging solution for your business.
Is Plastic Food Safe?
In a word, yes! However, not all plastics are food safe and it depends on the type of plastic you use and how you use it. Some plastics – such as PET, HDPE, LDPE and PP – are designed specifically for use in food packaging and are FSA (Food Standards Agency) certified, which means they’ve been through rigorous testing procedures to make sure they’re safe for food contact. Others – such as PVC or polycarbonate products – may contain chemicals such as phthalates (used during manufacturing to make them more flexible) that can leach into food, rendering them completely unsafe for food packaging.
What Makes Plastic Food Safe?
Being food grade depends on a plastic’s purity, chemical stability and how it interacts with food. Food-safe plastics do not chemically react with the food they come into contact with; they won’t absorb oils, acids, or moisture from food, and they don’t alter its flavour or smell.
Food-safe plastics are produced in carefully-controlled environments that avoid contamination with harmful chemicals. This ensures the finished product is free from toxins and meets the highest standards of food safety. Any plastic that contains toxic dye, additives such as Bisphenol A (which has been associated with potential health issues such as hormone disruption) or recycled material, or degrades when exposed to heat or moisture and leaches harmful chemicals into food, cannot be used in food packaging.
For a plastic to be food safe, it must be approved for food contact by government regulation and legislation. In the UK, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the regulatory body that sets the standards for all packaging suppliers and manufacturers to follow. These standards ensure that any plastic material used in any of the food packaging we see on our shelves has been tested (through a combination of chemical migration and toxicity tests) and found to be food safe.
How Do I Know If A Plastic Is Food Safe?
The best way to tell if a plastic is food safe is to look at the symbols and logos on the bottom of your container. Food-safe plastics are often marked with a symbol resembling a fork and cup. You can also check the resin ID code on your packaging – plastics marked with codes 1 (PET), 2 (HDPE), 4 (LDPE) and 5 (PP) are generally considered food safe.
Why Is Plastic Used In Food Packaging?
There are many reasons why plastics are so widely used in food packaging.
For a start, it protects your product! Plastic is an extremely durable material that rarely experiences cracking or breaking and offers food products exceptional protection against leakage, spillage and waste both in transit and in storage. Our exceptional range of food-safe pails for example are made from polypropylene (PP), which is highly resistant to breaking and are designed with a dotted rim, which helps maintain stability in transit and prevents pail lids popping off, which can spoil food and incur huge waste and costs.
Plastic packaging can also help maintain the shelf-life of fresh produce. Some plastics such as PP are designed to form a barrier that prevents air, moisture, and contaminants from entering, keeping food fresh and safe from spoilage. Pair our PP food-safe pails with one of our extensive range of snap-on lids for a complete packaging solution that offers excellent product freshness and tamper evidence qualities, helping to prevent pilferage and maintain the quality and integrity of your food products.
Another reason plastics are so widely used for bulk food packaging is that they are typically very lightweight, which makes them easy and cheap to transport. Being lightweight also makes them more likely to be recyclable, which is a big tick in the box for companies who are investing in more eco-friendly packaging products to meet the increasing sustainability expectations of consumers.
What Types Of Plastic Are Used In Food Packaging?
There are four main types of plastic that are considered by the FSA to be food safe – PP, PET, HDPE & LDPE – and the first three of these are the plastics that are most commonly used in our food packaging products!
Plastics such as polypropylene (PP) for example are strong and durable and do not break down and release harmful chemicals when exposed to heat, so they are widely used to manufacture microwave-safe food containers. Our exceptional range of PP-manufactured food-grade tubs and pails are ideal for hot filling and also help preserve the integrity, freshness and quality of a wide variety of food products, from marinades, sauces and condiments to soups, jams and dips.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) too is a great food-safe plastic! It’s mainly used for bottled beverages such as water and food packaging because it provides an excellent barrier against heat, cold and moisture, helping keep food and drink fresher for longer. At Cambrian, we have a wide range of PET bottles, including juice bottles, that are perfect for preserving the quality and longevity of your beverage products such as sodas, juices and smoothies.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is another food-safe plastic commonly found in our food and drink containers. HDPE can handle boiling water without melting or warping, so any containers manufactured from HDPE – such as our excellent UN Certified jerry cans – are perfect for hot-filling with products such as hot sauces and soups.
Can Recycled Plastic Be Used In Food Packaging?
As previously mentioned, for a plastic to be food grade, it has to be pure. Therefore, only virgin plastics can be used to contain food and beverages and for that reason, we use only virgin PP, PET and HDPE in our food packaging products.
Recycled plastics are not suitable for use in food packaging because they contain material that has been used previously and it’s impossible to ascertain if that material harbours any chemicals or toxins that would make it unsafe for food contact.
Of course, PET, PP and HDPE are recyclable plastics and the majority of the products we supply that are manufactured using these types of plastics can be fully recycled using standard facilities. However, they cannot be recycled into food packaging.
How Cambrian Can Help: Our Failsafe Food-Safe Products
At Cambrian, we’re experts in food packaging and we’re proud to offer an extensive range of food safe plastic packaging products, from our PET juice bottles and straight-sided jars , to our PP-manufactured tubs and pails and HDPE-made jerry cans.
We’re also extremely proud to be BRCGS (Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standard) Food Chain certified. This means that the food packaging products we supply and distribute adhere to the very highest standards of safety, integrity and quality. It also means that as a business we have demonstrated our commitment to following management systems that foster exceptional food safety culture and quality control.
As pioneers in food-grade packaging, we also understand that sometimes the world of packaging and food safety can be a confusing one to navigate. That’s why we offer a personal packaging consultation to anyone who comes to our door. Sit down with one of our dedicated account managers who will discuss your requirements with you in depth and collate a packaging solution that’s tailor made for your food, beverage and/or contract filling business.
If you have any other questions about plastics and their use in food packaging, or want to know more about our brilliant food-grade products, please contact our friendly team today!
For more information on Plastics & Food Safety: Your Questions Answered talk to Cambrian Packaging