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Health Concerns & Plastic Food Containers

In the 1967 movie "The Graduate," Dustin Hoffman's character receives career advice: "there is a great future in plastics." As prophetic as that business advice turned out to be, the proliferation of plastic bottles, cups, food containers, and plastic bags has become a serious health concern. Ironically, the additives in plastics that make it desirable as a food container are also the ones that cause health concerns.

  1. Plastic Water Bottles

    • Bisphenol A (BPA) is a key building block for making polycarbonate plastics such as water bottles, with 2.3 billion pounds of it manufactured annually in the U.S. BPA has been shown to leach from the containers into the food it contains, and scientists have linked BPA exposure to health issues including cancers, immune disorders, hyperactivity, obesity, diabetes, and hyperactivity.

    Plastic Wrap and Food Packaging

    • The number 7 appears on the bottom of products made of polycarbonate plastic.

      Polyvinyl chloride and DEHP (a colorless liquid added for flexibility) are found in food wrap and packaging used for various foods such as milk, fish and oils. While low levels of these chemicals are believed to be harmless, high levels have been linked to asthma, liver and kidney damage, and reproductive problems. The Environmental Protection Agency believes that DEHP will eventually be proven to be a human carcinogen.

    Cans

    • Canned beverages contain less BPA than canned foods.

      BPA is used to line cans to prevent corrosion and food contamination. Tara Parker-Pope states in her April 22, 2008 New York Times article, "A Hard Plastic Is Raising Hard Questions," that most human toxic exposure comes from canned foods. She says, "Virtually every canned product, even those labeled organic, has a liner with BPA."

    Baby Products

    • Mothers can look for baby bottles and sippy cups that are BPA-free

      Millions of baby bottles and cans of baby formula, manufactured with BPA, have been sold annually for decades. Parker-Pope's article indicates that babies who drink from polycarbonate bottles ingest an estimated 10 micrograms of BPA per kilogram of body weight. Pacifiers and teethers can contain polyvinyl chloride (known as PVC or vinyl) or DEHP.

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