Alexei Volkov
Food-grade plastic is plastic material deemed safe for use with food and drink. Food-grade plastic must be produced using safe materials in a safe environment. It must also be durable, protective, and chemically safe. Different types of plastic can be made food-grade to handle different products or environments. A few examples of food-grade plastic include Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), and Polystyrene (PS). Food-grade plastic is also identified by a rating from 1-7, with 1 being the safest.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Plastic material deemed safe for use with foods |
| Safety | Must meet strict requirements and higher standards than plastic used for other purposes |
| Regulatory body | Food and Drug Administration (FDA) |
| FDA approval | Must approve of the materials being used to manufacture the food-grade plastic |
| Testing | Examine all ingredients and additives to ensure they are safe and will not affect the taste, odour, or colour of the food |
| Testing | Test the materials for adverse responses to temperature changes, humidity, moisture, or the presence of other chemicals, oils, or alcohols |
| Manufacturing facility | Must meet stringent cleanliness requirements and have good manufacturing practices in place to minimize potential risks of contamination of its products |
| Plastic type examples | Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), High-density polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS) |
| Plastic type characteristics | PET is clear, tough, and has gas and moisture barrier properties; HDPE is commonly used for milk bottles, juice containers, and laundry products; PVC is used for both food and non-food purposes; LDPE is used for bread and frozen food bags; PP is FDA-approved for food contact and has high heat tolerance; PS is a rigid plastic or foam that is clear, hard, and brittle |
| Plastic type usage | PET is used for beverage bottles, peanut butter jars, and salad dressing containers; HDPE is used for milk jugs, grocery bags, and squeeze-dispenser bottles; PVC is used for cling wrap and food storage bags; LDPE is used for produce bags, bread bags, and can rings; PP is used for clear wrappers and bottles for medication; PS is used for plastic silverware and to-go containers |
| BPA | Used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins; the FDA continues to authorize its use, assuring that at very low levels, it is safe |
| Toxins | Food-grade plastics should not leak toxins when exposed to heat |
| Reuse | Some food-grade plastics are meant for single-use only and become unsafe if reused |
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What You'll Learn
- Food-grade plastic must be non-toxic, chemically safe, and durable
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a safe plastic for food storage
- Polypropylene (PP) is FDA-approved for food contact
- Food-grade plastic must be produced in a safe environment
- FDA-compliant plastic must be able to withstand its environment
Food-grade plastic must be non-toxic, chemically safe, and durable
Food-grade plastic is plastic material deemed safe for use with food. It must be non-toxic, chemically safe, and durable.
To be certified as food-grade, plastic must meet strict standards set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory organisations. The FDA will only approve materials that are safe and will not affect the taste, odour, or colour of the food. They also test materials for adverse responses to temperature changes, humidity, moisture, or the presence of other chemicals, oils, or alcohols.
The facility where the food-grade plastic is manufactured must also meet stringent cleanliness requirements and have good manufacturing practices in place to minimise potential risks of contamination.
Different types of plastic can be made food-grade to handle different products or environments. Some examples of food-grade plastic include:
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE): plastic bottles or jars like single-serving water bottles or condiment containers.
- High-density polyethylene (HDPE): milk jugs, grocery bags, squeeze-dispenser bottles.
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): cling wrap, high-clarity food storage bags.
- Low-density polyethylene (LDPE): produce bags, bread bags, can rings.
- Polypropylene (PP): clear wrappers, bottles for medication, and food storage.
- Polystyrene (PS): plastic silverware, to-go containers.
Food-grade plastic is generally marked with a rating from 1-7 to indicate its safety. Numbers 2, 4, and 5 are considered the safest for food storage. It is important to note that even if a plastic is food-grade, it may not be safe for all types of food or in all environments. For example, a plastic container that is manufactured for dry food may not be safe for storing hot liquids.
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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a safe plastic for food storage
Food-grade plastic is plastic material deemed safe for use with food. To be certified as safe and labelled food-grade, plastic must meet strict standards set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulating organisations. The FDA examines all ingredients and additives to ensure they do not affect the taste, odour, or colour of the food. They also test the materials for adverse responses to temperature changes, humidity, moisture, or the presence of other chemicals, oils, or alcohols.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a type of plastic that is safe for food storage. It is commonly used to make soda bottles, peanut butter jars, and salad dressing containers. PET plastic has great wear resistance, strength, and stability, which ensures its safety. Food-grade PET items include single-serve beverage bottles, vitamin bottles, and condiment bottles. These bottles are safe for one-time usage but become unsafe and leak toxins if reused or stored in the sun.
PET plastic is also safe due to its chemical resistance and high heat tolerance. It is stamped with recycling number 1 and is considered an FDA-approved food-grade material even after it’s recycled. However, leaching of estrogenic compounds – hormone-disrupting chemicals – can occur when PET is reused.
It is important to note that food-grade and food-safe are two different terms. Every food-safe material is food-grade, but not every food-grade material is food-safe. Food-grade materials are only considered food-safe if they are used as intended to prevent safety hazards. For example, a plastic container meant for dry cereal may not be safe to store hot soup, as heat can break down the chemical bonds of the plastic and cause toxins to contaminate the food.
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Polypropylene (PP) is FDA-approved for food contact
Food-grade plastic is plastic material deemed safe for use with foods. It is used in many applications, from the packaging and shipping of harvested crops to the supermarket, or the development and distribution of pharmaceutical products. Different types of plastic can be made food-grade to handle different products or environments.
Polypropylene (PP) is a widely used plastic that is FDA-approved for food contact. PP is ranked at 5 and is safe for food storage. It is known to be a safer alternative to most other plastics. It can be used to heat beverages or foods without leaching. However, it can leach plastic additives and lead to occupational asthma. Most additives are found in very low amounts, and studies show that PP is not carcinogenic.
PP is used in single-serve containers like yogurt cups, as well as in reusable containers that can store leftovers. It is nonvolatile and doesn't react to liquids, acids, or bases, so it's perfect for storing a wide variety of foods. PP's high melting point makes it suitable for microwaveable food containers.
PP is also used in clear wrappers, bottles for medication, and bale wrap, pallet sheets, and reinforcements. It is a very durable material that is also chemically resistant.
To be certified as safe and labelled food-grade, plastic must meet strict standards set by the Food and Drug Administration and other regulating organisations. The FDA examines all ingredients and additives to ensure they are safe and will not affect the taste, odour, or colour of the food. They will also test the materials for adverse responses to temperature changes, humidity, moisture, or the presence of other chemicals, oils, or alcohols.
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Food-grade plastic must be produced in a safe environment
Food-grade plastic is plastic material deemed safe for use with food. It is non-toxic and meets the safety guidelines provided by authorities. Food-grade plastic must be produced using safe materials in a safe environment.
The safety of food-grade plastic is indicated by a rating from 1-7 placed below the plastic product or marked green for identification. The ratings are based on the recycling number on the bottom of each container. The safest recycling numbers for food-grade plastic are 2, 4, and 5.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the governing body that closely checks, evaluates, and conducts research on food-grade plastic. The FDA must approve of the materials being used to manufacture the food-grade plastic. They examine all ingredients and additives to ensure they are safe and will not affect the taste, odour, or colour of the food. They will also test the materials for adverse responses to temperature changes, humidity and moisture, or the presence of other chemicals, oils, or alcohols.
The facility where the food-grade plastic is manufactured must meet stringent cleanliness requirements and have good manufacturing practices in place to minimize potential risks of contamination of its products. Standards documents issued by the International Standards Organization regulate the environment of the manufacturing facility to ensure consistency.
Food-grade plastic is used in many applications, from the packaging and shipping of harvested crops to the supermarket, or the development and distribution of pharmaceutical products. Different types of plastic can be made food grade to handle different products or environments. Some examples of food-grade plastic include:
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)
- High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
- Polyvinyl chloride
- Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polystyrene (PS)
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FDA-compliant plastic must be able to withstand its environment
Food-grade plastic is plastic material deemed safe for use with food. For a plastic to be considered food-grade, it must meet strict requirements and is regulated by higher standards than plastic used for other purposes. To be certified as safe and labelled food-grade, the plastic must meet strict standards set by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulating organisations.
The plastic must also be compatible with the type of food it will be in contact with and not leach any chemicals if a food is acidic, like tomato sauce, or has high moisture content. FDA-compliant plastic must also be able to withstand any stresses in the environment it is placed in and should only be used in its recommended service temperature range.
Some examples of FDA-compliant plastics include:
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
- Nylon
- Polycarbonate
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Frequently asked questions
Food-grade plastic is a plastic material deemed safe for use with foods. It must meet strict requirements and is regulated by higher standards than plastic used for other purposes.
Examples of food-grade plastic include Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), and Polystyrene (PS).
Food-grade plastics are typically marked with a rating from 1 to 7. The numbers 2, 4, and 5 are considered the safest for food storage.
Food-safe plastic is a term used to describe food-grade plastic that is utilized as intended. For example, a plastic container marked as food-safe for dry food storage should not be used to store hot liquids.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastics. It has been a topic of concern due to potential health risks associated with its presence in food packaging. While the FDA continues to authorize its use, it is recommended to avoid plastics with recycling symbols 3 and 7 to minimize BPA exposure.
