Regulations on Plastic Food Containers

Much controversy exists over the safety of plastic food containers due to the negative effects they have on human health. A December 2008 article in The New York Times informs readers that bisphenol-A, or BPA, a chemical found in many food containers, has toxic properties. Accordingly, regulations exist to control the safety of plastic products.

Health Hazards

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversees the safety of food packaging products. Under the FDA's authority, plastic packaging products must pass safety assessments that eliminate the potential for BPA to be leached into the food or beverages being stored in containers.

Components

• The FDA regulates the quantity of chemical levels that are permitted to be used to make plastic containers. Products that contain more than the allowable amount of chemicals are not permitted to be sold to consumers.

Recycled Plastic Containers

• The FDA has regulations for approving plastics to be recycled and turned into new food containers. The safety concerns about recycled plastics are that contaminants from the original products could end up in the recycled products. Consequently, the FDA prepared the "Guidance for Industry: Use of Recycled Plastics in Food Packaging: Chemistry Considerations" to regulate food packaging standards for recycled plastics.