Look around your kitchen, if you are like most of us, you probably have a plastic dependency. They hide in refrigerators, cabinets, pantry's, from butter in tubs to salad dressings to food storage, yikes it's everywhere. But before we pitch all of our plastics, know which ones can be harmful to your family.
To determine which type of plastics you have in your home, turn over and look for the recycling code on the bottom. The plastics with the greatest potential for negative health effects are #3 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and #7 polycarbonate (PC) or "other." This can often be found in deli wrap plastics, oil bottles. Traces of these chemicals are know to leach into foods. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), in animal studies,phthalates interfere with the production of male reproductive hormones, lower testosterone levels and decrease sperm counts. Exposure during fetal development can cause malformation of the male reproductive tract as well as cancer. To avoid PVC ask your grocery store butcher to cut meat and cheese and wrap it in paper. When choosing cheeses go for the zip closure style rather than the shrink wrap style.
Safer plastics are #2 high-density polyethylene (HDPE) the plastic for opaque milk and cereal box liners. #4 low density polyethylene (LDPE) the plastic in plastic wrap and #5 polypropylene (PP) the plastic in yogurt containers and margarine tubs.
10 Top Tips for Plastic Use
1. Never heat food in plastic containers.
2. Always avoid hazardous plastics with codes #3 and #7.
3. Do not reuse single use plastic containers such as water bottles.
4. Check baby bottles and sippy cups for #7 plastics.
5. Reduce your consumption of BPA lined canned food and beverages. Instead buy food in glass jars.
6. Do not serve or store hot fatty oil food in plastic containers.
7. Choose reusable glass containers.
8.Avoid foods sold in plastic such as deli meats and cheeses. Or transfer them immediately to a glass container when home.
9. Retire old containers. If you have any older plastic storage items, over 2 years old throw them away.
10.If you are pregnant or nursing, remember BPA is transferred from your blood to your baby's.
reference:motherearth living.com
No comments:
Post a Comment