7 ms·

PFAS and phthalates are 2 of the biggest things. An working federal government would have banned these decades ago. Also, plastics touching food ever. "Food gr

PFAS and phthalates are 2 of the biggest things. An working federal government would have banned these decades ago. Also, plastics touching food ever. "Food grade" plastic is a myth sold to us by the plastics industry. This one is going to take longer though.

ManuelKiessling 5y ago
„"Food grade" plastic is a myth” – do you know any reliable sources where I could read up the details?
FooBarBizBazz 5y ago
Re. "food grade": I think maybe some plastics might be ok, but, when I've recently done some projects involving plastic parts, I've been shocked to learn how little is food-grade. Like, almost nothing with any dye, especially any black dye. Yet how often does one see black plastic cutlery and plates, or microwave dinner trays? Then they have this legalese on them like "do not reheat". WTF? Rubbermaid containers don't seem to be food-grade either. I'd bet that some small minority of plastic really is food grade, that the rest hides behind legalese, that consumers can't tell one from the other, and that both are routinely used for food, certainly within the home, and probably also commercially. Also: There are a bunch of dirty political tricks that industry could pull to "problematize" concern about endocrine disruptors. Think of the famous "crying Indian" ad that started the recycling scam, but with hip 2021 sensibilities. I think we're going to have to be ready for that trick. "Those right-wingers! It's like that scene in Dr. Strangelove -- always concerned with their precious bodily fluids." You can see how it'll work.
- WalterBright 5y ago
  When I was a kid I never liked plastic cups and glasses because it made the drink taste "plasticy".
  - SilverRed 5y ago
    Hot liquids are the worst. I find that takeaway coffee is disgusting because the coffee smell is replaced by the smell of melting plastics.
- CyanBird 5y ago
  What is the issue with black ink? Is it part of the chemistry of it having things potentially harmful or else?
  - FooBarBizBazz 5y ago
    I don't know the chemistry. What I do know is that if you start searching for food-grade storage containers you'll mostly find plain white HDPE, and that other colors of the same containers, from the same manufacturers, are not rated food-safe. I forget how I formed the impression that black was least likely to be food safe, except that black is what I otherwise would have wanted, and I could not for the life of me find food-safe black containers. But I think there was something else about that specific colorant as well. Sorry I can't find more specifics. I might be motivated to find a real expert now.

ManuelKiessling 5y ago

„"Food grade" plastic is a myth” – do you know any reliable sources where I could read up the details?

FooBarBizBazz 5y ago

Re. "food grade": I think maybe some plastics might be ok, but, when I've recently done some projects involving plastic parts, I've been shocked to learn how little is food-grade. Like, almost nothing with any dye, especially any black dye. Yet how often does one see black plastic cutlery and plates, or microwave dinner trays? Then they have this legalese on them like "do not reheat". WTF? Rubbermaid containers don't seem to be food-grade either. I'd bet that some small minority of plastic really is food grade, that the rest hides behind legalese, that consumers can't tell one from the other, and that both are routinely used for food, certainly within the home, and probably also commercially. Also: There are a bunch of dirty political tricks that industry could pull to "problematize" concern about endocrine disruptors. Think of the famous "crying Indian" ad that started the recycling scam, but with hip 2021 sensibilities. I think we're going to have to be ready for that trick. "Those right-wingers! It's like that scene in Dr. Strangelove -- always concerned with their precious bodily fluids." You can see how it'll work.

WalterBright 5y ago
When I was a kid I never liked plastic cups and glasses because it made the drink taste "plasticy".
- SilverRed 5y ago
  Hot liquids are the worst. I find that takeaway coffee is disgusting because the coffee smell is replaced by the smell of melting plastics.
CyanBird 5y ago
What is the issue with black ink? Is it part of the chemistry of it having things potentially harmful or else?
- FooBarBizBazz 5y ago
  I don't know the chemistry. What I do know is that if you start searching for food-grade storage containers you'll mostly find plain white HDPE, and that other colors of the same containers, from the same manufacturers, are not rated food-safe. I forget how I formed the impression that black was least likely to be food safe, except that black is what I otherwise would have wanted, and I could not for the life of me find food-safe black containers. But I think there was something else about that specific colorant as well. Sorry I can't find more specifics. I might be motivated to find a real expert now.