Is Recycled Polypropylene Food Safe

Fda s main safety concerns with the use of recycled plastic materials in food contact articles are.

Is recycled polypropylene food safe. They are an inert material which means that they don t pose health risks to consumers. The fda began to approve recycled polypropylene as food safe in 2013. It s nonvolatile and doesn t react to liquids acids or bases so it s perfect to store a wide variety of foods. Nextek ltd a uk based plastic design and recycling consulting company and finalist of 2013 recycling innovators forum has invented an innovative process to decontaminate food grade polypropylene for reuse in a closed loop back into food packaging.

Typically mixed plastics are practically impossible to recycle and pose the most potential health hazards according to the sea studios foundation. These may be made exclusively of plastic or they may consist of a plastic layer on top of another material such as metal or paper. Polycarbonate plastic often included in plastic seven leaches bisphenol a bpa into food a known endocrine disruptor. While it s best to avoid plastic food storage containers altogether there are safer choices if you don t have the means to make the switch yet.

1 that contaminants from the post consumer material may appear in the final food contact. Bpa may also create genetic damage and may effect development. If you look at the bottom of your plastic food storage containers and they have a 2 4 or 5 those are generally recognized as safe for food and drink. In the european union plastic is one of the most common food contact materials.

Polypropylene s high melting point makes it suitable for microwaveable food containers. Food grade recycled pp nextek was commissioned by wrap to work in partnership with the uk packaging supply chain retailers brand owners and the recycling industry to develop a viable process to recycle household polypropylene pp packaging waste into recycled pp rpp approved for use in the manufacture of food packaging. It doesn t interact with food at all. Recycled polypropylene was approved as food safe by the fda in 2013.

Below is more information on and examples of the most common plastics used in food packaging available at the society of plastics engineers spe and plastics industry association pia along with safety information from the fda. Pp plastics have been approved safe for food contact by the fda. Food contact materials are all materials and articles intended to come into contact with food such as packaging and containers kitchen equipment cutlery and dishes.