Plastics, Food, and Personal Health
by Elizabeth Ferry

The potentially-damaging effect of some plastics on human health has again come into the news. Local Public Broadcasting System (PBS) stations recently aired "Trade Secrets: A Moyers Report." The program, researched and hosted by ethicist Bill Moyers, documents that some chemical companies "sometimes hid the truth about the health implications of their products." Some Co-op consumers have contacted our Education Department for more information about one small aspect of the television program, that of plastics and food.

What’s at Stake
All plastics that are used in contact with food have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, in 1998, scientists at the consumer research group Consumers Union found that chemicals from plastic wrap could migrate, or leach, from the plastic into fatty foods such as cheese and meat. These chemicals may interfere with the normal functioning of the hormonal system. Studies in animals show possible links between plastic wrap and reproductive problems, birth defects, and some forms of cancer. Children experience an increased level of risk as compared to adults due to the small size of children’s bodies and to the on-going development of their bodies.

The March/April 2001 issue of The Green Guide: Shopper’s Guide to Plastics and Food, quotes senior Consumers Union scientist Ned Groth, Ph.D., as saying that hormone disruptors "simply haven’t been tested for their effects since these tests weren’t an issue a generation ago," at the time of FDA approval.

Telling Plastics Apart
At this point in scientific research and knowledge, not all plastics are considered to pose the same health risks. It is important to note that plastic bags are not considered to be problematic. Of greater concern are plastic wraps and plastic containers.

Some plastic cling wraps use a plasticizer known as DEHA which has been shown to be an endocrine disrupter in rats. DEHA use has been banned in Great Britain, but not in the United States. It is often difficult to get information from suppliers about the DEHA content of their product.

Household plastic wraps made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), such as Glad Microwave Wrap, Saran Classic (formerly Saran Wrap), and Reynolds Plastic Wrap are known to contain DEHA. Wraps made from polyethylene, including Glad Cling Wrap, Saran with Cling-Plus (formerly Handi-Wrap), and plastic bags made by Glad, Hefty, and Ziploc are free of this and other chemicals considered to be problematic.

Many plastic products carry a recycling code on the bottom of the container. By reading those codes and referring to this list, consumers can make informed choices in their use of plastics. The most common plastics, #1 PETE or PET and #2 HDPE, are considered the least harmful at this time. Also considered low risk are #4 LDPE and #5 PP.

Highest on the list to avoid, due to their ability to leach questionable chemicals into foods, are
#3 PVC or V, polyvinyl chloride
#6 Polystyrene, better known by its brand name Styrofoam, and
#7 Other, usually a polycarbonate.

Most Rubbermaid and Tupperware containers are considered acceptable with two exceptions: Rubbermaid Clear Classics container bases and Tupperware’s Rock ‘N Serve containers.

At the Co-op
Our Cheese Shop Manager, Annie MacDonald, working with Hunger Mountain Co-op, has found a plastic wrap that is DEHA-free.

The Co-op’s Meat Departments do not pre-wrap their products in cling wrap, another advantage of purchasing meats from the Co-op. The plastic bags that may be used in addition to butcher paper are not made of PVC and contain no DEHA.

Precautionary Measures
Consumers may want to take some precautions until further scientific research is conducted on potential negative health effects of plastic. Here are some suggestions for consideration.

	Store foods, especially those with high fat content, in something other than plastic. Butcher’s wrap, freezer paper, wax paper, and aluminum foil are all possibilities. Note: aluminum foil is an energy-intensive product. For the sake of the environment, wash and reuse it as many times as possible, then take it to be recycled at a municipal recycling facility.
	Do not allow plastic wrap to touch food when heating, as in a microwave. Ceramic or oven-proof glass dishes provide safe and effective substitutes.
	When purchasing foods that are wrapped in plastic from the supermarket or deli, slice off a thin layer where the food comes into contact with the plastic and store the rest of the food according to the suggestions above.