Food-grade plastics are plastics specifically produced to meet certain standards of sterility, those plastics are manufactured to pose no risk to human health because the production processes don’t use any dyes or toxins in recycled materials. The reason for this is because there are so many acidic foods and alcohol can sometimes leach plastic additives from the container or packaging into the food, which means there can be a possibility of these additives being consumed by humans. The sterility levels of food-grade plastics prevent this process from occurring, in order for the food-grade plastic products to be used safely to store almost any food or drink. Food-grade plastics lessen any risks to human health.
Back to the topic, some plastics on the market can be reused for storing food or water, but not every one of them as they might contain toxins. However, there is a way for you to identify which plastics can be reused, you can see the number printed under the plastics. These are a Resin Identification Code or recycling number on plastics to identify the type of plastics. The plastics that are food grade are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Compliant.
What is FDA compliant? It means that the materials cleanly followed all of the FDA’s guidelines for safe, direct contact with food. The much simpler way to say it is “food grade”. To be FDA compliant, a material must be able to withstand the environment it will be used in. If applicable, it will also need to hold up through rigorous cleaning and sanitizing cycles. Further, the plastics must be compatible with the type of food they will be in contact with and not leach any chemicals when the food is acidic or has high moisture, etc.
Now, the question is, which numbers of plastic are food grade? Read on to find out!
Which Plastics are Food Grade?
There are several food-grade plastics that are FDA compliant for food contact and are used in food, beverage, and medicine packaging. Here are some plastics that are generally safe for food contact.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
This type of plastic is listed as number 1 inside the recycling triangle diagram. PET is a lightweight plastic that is clear, tough, and has gas and moisture barrier properties. This plastic is made to be more resistant to help protect food or liquid inside the packaging, usually used for soft drinks, juices, bottled water, ketchup, salad dressing, vitamins, peanut butter, as well as pickles. PET may be a food-grade plastic, but when used, there may be any scent lingering on the packaging when used for a food or beverage that has a strong odor.
Can PET be recycled? Yes, it can 100% be recycled and it’s not a single-use plastic, like other types of plastics.
High-density Polyethylene (HDPE)
HDPE is a hard, opaque plastic that is lightweight yet very strong, which is listed as number 2 inside the recycling triangle diagram. It is the most common household plastic used to make bottled beverages, butter containers, milk jugs, liquid bottled, laundry products, as well as grocery bags. Packagings that are HDPE plastic-based can be either translucent or colored. It is kind of stiff and well-suited for packaging products with a short shelf life, such as milk. However, keep in mind that you must avoid using HDPE plastic-based garbage bags or grocery bags as food storage liners.
Can HDPE be recycled? Yes, but not 100% as it can sometimes become unsafe in the recycling process. For example, you can’t reuse a milk jug because it can be hard to sanitize properly, and the plastic will easily break down over time.
Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE)
LDPE is a thin resin that has high heat resilience food grade plastic, which is listed as number 4 inside the recycling triangle diagram. This plastic is flexible yet very tough and commonly used for a wide range of items, like dry-cleaning bags, bread and frozen food bags, and squeezable bottles for mayonnaise, mustard, and honey. Usually, LDPE plastics are used in the plastic blow molding process.
Can LDPE be recycled? Yes, but when you want to reuse the plastic for food storage, consider what was in them previously. Because this plastic is probably not the best to use for long-term food storage.
Polypropylene (PP)
PP is tough but less breakable than some other plastics because it can be flexible too. This plastic is listed as number 5 inside the recycling triangle diagram. When it is manufactured, PP plastic design can be made translucent, opaque, or a different color. It commonly has a high melting point, making it exceptionally fit for food packages that are used in microwaves or cleaned in dishwashers. PP is a widely used plastic, for example, it can be used for yogurt containers, margarine tubs, and medicine bottles, yet it can also be used as non-food grade plastics, like ice scrapers or oil funnels.
Can it be recycled? Yes, because this plastic won’t react to any type of food you store in it, whether it’s acidic, basic, or liquid.
Polystyrene (PS)
This food-grade plastic is a hard one without much flexibility, and it’s colorless. PS is listed as number 6 inside the recycling triangle diagram. It can be made into foam or cast into molds that are typically used as cups, plates, egg cartons, meat trays, bakery trays, as well as fast food containers and lids. Can PS be recycled? Yes, but it isn’t usually safe to reuse as food storage.
