BPA is a known carcinogen that can leach into baby food from polycarbonate baby bottles. Continued washing using dish washing or other harsh soaps can break down plastic bottles and cause the migration of BPA into food stored in these bottles.
Polyvinyl chloride or PVC is commonly used in plastic food wrap, combined with polycarbonate from the inner lining of food cans, and baby bottles, these plastics pose a threat to baby food storage.
BPA is the most commonly used plastic resin and is found in almost all food cans, including cans that store baby food. The chemical characteristics of BPA also behaves like the banned estrogen DES.
The Society of Plastics Industry created the resin identification codes for the purpose of plastic recycling. These codes are located on the labels of plastic baby bottles or imprinted on the bottom of the bottles. The SPI code is a general code but different states implement them differently, in any case it is good to know that BPA is found in at least 50% of plastic resins.
The letter code PET or PETA represents polyethylene terephthalate and is also identified by the number 1 inside the recycle triangle. This type of plastic is said to be safer than PVC or polycarbonate. The code HDPE is represented by the number 2 inside the recycle triangle. High Density polyethylene (HDPE) is used primarily in toy manufacture and other food containers or plastic bags.
Polyvinyl Chloride or vinyl or PVC is another suspect plastic and its indicator is the number 3 inside the recycle triangle. This plastic is widely used in plastic food wrap. Low Density polyethylene or "LDPE" can be identified by the number "4" inside the recycle triangle. LDPE is widely used in food packaging and the ever popular squeezable sport bottles
Polypropylene abbreviated PP and identified by the number 5 is less toxic than most other plastics. Plastic number 5 is used to package foods like butter, margarine and yogurt. Plastic number "6" is polystyrene. Next time you pick up a non-paper egg carton, check the recycle triangle to see if it is also labeled with the letters "PS"
With the advent of new resin combinations, the SPI code included the number 7 designated as OTHER to differentiate these plastics from SPI codes 1 - 6. Many plastics were clumped under SPI code 7 including BPA derived polycarbonates and natural non-hazardous plastics.
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