Food Safe Plastic Containers Numbers

The clue to which containers are safe can be found on the bottom in the form of a code number located inside the triangle shaped recyclable symbol.

Food safe plastic containers numbers.

Fortunately it s easy to identify a food grade bucket. Bpa is found in polycarbonate plastic food containers often marked on the bottom with the letters pc by the recycling label 7. They re made of 2 hdpe. There is a common misconception that all containers made of white plastic or hdpe plastic bearing the hdpe 2 plastic symbol symbol are food grade.

Inside the triangle there is sometimes a number and that number denotes the type of plastic the item is made of. Safe plastic 2 high density polyethyline hdpe hdpe is used in a wide range of containers and bottles including detergent bottles shampoo bottles and milk bottles. One of the features of hdpe which you will recognize in plastic milk bottles is that it is slightly cloudy and not totally transparent. While plastic containers have been vilified for potential health risks some are ok to use.

Cracking the code the coding system used on food containers corresponds with the type of plastic they re made of. Check the symbol and number on the bottom to make sure it s made out of a plastic that is safe for food. The common 5 gallon bucket. Some food grade buckets or containers will include a cup fork symbol as an indicator.

If you plan to store food in plastic buckets it s very important that the buckets be made out of the right material and be designed for food storage. At times tupperware containers have been marked with the number 7. Look for the label. From food containers household utensils to bags kid s toys shower curtains cosmetics packaging and water bottles plastic has become a permanent fixture in everyday lives and this has been quite alarming especially when it comes to safety.

Find out which are safe and which may be hazardous. Some polycarbonate water bottles are marketed as non leaching for minimizing plastic taste or odor however there is still a possibility that trace amounts of bpa will migrate from these containers particularly if used to heat liquids. A food grade bucket or container might also be specifically marked as usda. 3 6 7 although the number within the recycling symbol won t definitely determine if the plastic is necessarily recyclable it does definitely specify what is not microwaveable.

The following note comes from the page referenced above.