Hidden dangers of food storage containers

Jan 19, 2012 6:00 AM by Rachel Dreskin

Posted in Food & Recipes / Kitchen & Cooking Tips / Food Safety & Nutrition

Knowledge is key when it comes to choosing which types of plastic we should be storing our food in. By following a few simple steps, you can be well on your way to ridding your kitchen of easily avoidable chemicals that could be harmful to you and your family's health.

Rid your kitchen of known harmful chemicals

Flip over your food storage containers and take a look at the small number printed on the bottom. If the recycling number is #3 or #7, it likely contains either BPA (bisphenol A) or phthalates (used to make PVC plastics) which mimic estrogen and can interfere with hormone levels. These can be especially harmful for still-developing bodies so, unless the container clearly states that it is BPA and PVC-free, the safest thing to do is to get rid of them. Canada and the European Union have already banned BPA use in baby bottles and many people, including me, are not going to wait around for the U.S. to follow suit. If you don't want to part with your plastics completely, be sure that your containers are either #2, #4 or #5, which are widely considered safe for food storage.

Never reheat food in plastic

Even if your food containers are labeled as one of the safe plastics, always transfer food to a glass or china dish before reheating in the microwave. All plastics contain possible harmful chemicals, and when heated, those chemicals can leech onto the food that is next to them. Take-out containers are one of the worst culprits when it comes to plastics that contain toxic elements, so never reheat food in those containers.

Take care when washing plastic

Dishwashers use very hot water and steam to clean dishes thoroughly -- which leaves us with sparkling plates and glasses -- but can unfortunately pose a problem when it comes to plastics. Just like microwaving, heating plastic can release harmful chemicals, so play it safe and wash your plastic containers by hand in lukewarm water.

Start switching to glass

If you're using food storage containers that are made from safe plastics, no need to do a total kitchen overhaul and throw all of your plastic away. It is a good idea, however, to start making a gradual shift over to glass containers. There are a lot of high quality and affordable options out there. The best are those that are made completely of glass, including the lids. When taking food on the go, try glass containers that have snug fitting plastic lids -- that are BPA and PVC-free, of course.

More tips for a greener kitchen

Eco-friendly kitchenware
How to green your kitchen
Go green in the kitchen

Tags: food storage green tips kitchen organization

Comments

Comments on "Hidden dangers of food storage containers"

Glass contains lead, which also leaches out into food and liquid!!! Be very careful before you make blanket statements to ditch plastic and use glass.....it is a question of 'choose your poison'!

Invest in sets of glass Pyrex round or rectangular containers with tight lids. Advantages: The 3 sizes nest, conserving cupboard space; stackable in the refrigerator and freezer, conserving space, and can be cooked or reheated in the oven or microwave with no cover. Perfect.

Trish, Thanks for your question! Since your daughter's daycare is probably concerned about glass containers/bottles slipping and shattering, it might be worth asking the management if they would allow glass bottles that have a silicone grip (Lifefactory makes great high-quality glass bottles and grips). If they don't go for it, or if she is eating food out of regular storage containers, just be sure the containers are BPA-free and are labeled as a #2, #4 or #5 plastic.

My 6 month old is in daycare and they do not allow us to bring in glass containers. Her food needs to be heated prior to eating. What is safe to store and heat the food in in this scenario?

Ariella, I'm so glad you like the article! I agree with tiffanyabrownaverill that freezing foods in wide mouthed glass mason jars (leaving a little room for expansion) is the best way to store foods that you are preparing in bulk. As far as releasing the frozen food from the jars, I place the jar in a bowl that is filled with warm water. In a few minutes you should be able to slip the food right out into the pot. Thanks for the comments - and happy cooking!

I use mason jars to freeze liquids. Just make sure you leave an inch at the top for expansion as your liquid freezes.

Great article! I have some glass containers than I absolutely love and would really like to switch over to them. Since I prepare a lot of liquid foods in bulk and then freeze, what is best way to store these kinds of foods? Like pasta sauce and soup. Currently I use plastic and then often have to microwave it for 1 minute in order to slip it out of the container and into a glass dish or pot. My friends use plastic bags. What are your thoughts on that?