3 ms·

I do not trust BPA-free plastics either. I have switched from cans to tetrapaks where possible. My confusion came from some misleading industry documents I read

by elil17 4y ago

I do not trust BPA-free plastics either. I have switched from cans to tetrapaks where possible. My confusion came from some misleading industry documents I read which suggested that PFOA/PFOS/C8 had been replaced with a process that did not require fluorosurfactants. I feel like the information about these chemicals is so confusing, it's hard for a non-chemist like me to understand.

CorrectHorseBat 4y ago
Would it not be better to switch to glass? Isn't tetrapak lined with plastic too?
- elil17 4y ago
  Glass packaged tuna and tomatoes are very expensive compared to tetrapaks. They are lined with plastic but it doesn’t use hardening agents as I understand.
  - CorrectHorseBat 4y ago
    Is there any technical reason why cans use BPA and Tetrapak not?
infinite8s 4y ago
Most of the replacements are probably no better than BPA - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300483X18306668?via%3Dihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300483X1... Due to our permission-first society, manufacturers can just replace BPA with a similar analogue, claim that it's BPA-free (which is technically true, but doesn't mention that the replacement is probably similarly problematic), and likely charge a premium for it.
cassepipe 4y ago
Can you elaborate ? What's wrong with cans ? If they're aren't just aliminum what are they coated with on the inside ? How would tetrapak fare better ?
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- exhilaration 4y ago
  It has changed now but, "For decades, most canned food manufacturers used can linings made of epoxy resin based on bisphenol A, or BPA, making food the primary route of our exposure to this toxic chemical." From here: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/bpa-update-tracking-canned-food-phaseout https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/bpa-update-tracking-c...
  - elil17 4y ago
    BPA is still used widely. BPB is sometimes used as a substitute but it’s probably just as bad.
    - MengerSponge 4y ago
      For people who care: thermopaper receipts are absolutely loaded with BPA. Cashiers have measurably higher serum BPA levels, because they touch them all day long. I generally don't take or touch receipts if I can avoid it, but I don't treat them like they're radioactive. The dose makes the poison, and I haven't figured out how to completely eliminate them and still function in society.
      - trafficante 4y ago
        With the initial Covid protocols training everybody into becoming constant receptacles for hand sanitizer, thermal receipt paper is probably worth being concerned about at this point. Using hand sanitizer increases the absorption rate of BPA and other chemicals by a factor of 100 or more - https://www.newsweek.com/hand-sanitizer-speed-absorption-bpa-receipts-279232 https://www.newsweek.com/hand-sanitizer-speed-absorption-bpa...
        6510 4y ago
        printing with ink is not madly expensive. Thermal paper should just be banned. Its a ridiculous product anyway the way it just goes blank long before the warranty expires. https://www.digitalcheck.com/receipts-thermal-ink-costs/ https://www.digitalcheck.com/receipts-thermal-ink-costs/ > There’s one other small difference that’s become important in the battle between thermal and ink: the use of company logos on receipts. As it turns out, this is a key factor in the cost of paper, and tips the break-even point in favor of thermal if you want your receipts to have a distinctive look. Ordinarily, plain receipt paper can be had for as little as 40 cents per 150-foot roll, while thermal paper comes in longer rolls (220 or 230 feet) that cost around 80 cents – so you get 25-30% more paper for your dollar with the standard variety.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

by elil17 4y ago

CorrectHorseBat 4y ago

Would it not be better to switch to glass? Isn't tetrapak lined with plastic too?

elil17 4y ago
Glass packaged tuna and tomatoes are very expensive compared to tetrapaks. They are lined with plastic but it doesn’t use hardening agents as I understand.
- CorrectHorseBat 4y ago
  Is there any technical reason why cans use BPA and Tetrapak not?

infinite8s 4y ago

Most of the replacements are probably no better than BPA - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300483X18306668?via%3Dihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300483X1... Due to our permission-first society, manufacturers can just replace BPA with a similar analogue, claim that it's BPA-free (which is technically true, but doesn't mention that the replacement is probably similarly problematic), and likely charge a premium for it.

cassepipe 4y ago

Can you elaborate ? What's wrong with cans ? If they're aren't just aliminum what are they coated with on the inside ? How would tetrapak fare better ?

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
exhilaration 4y ago
It has changed now but, "For decades, most canned food manufacturers used can linings made of epoxy resin based on bisphenol A, or BPA, making food the primary route of our exposure to this toxic chemical." From here: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/bpa-update-tracking-canned-food-phaseout https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/bpa-update-tracking-c...
- elil17 4y ago
  BPA is still used widely. BPB is sometimes used as a substitute but it’s probably just as bad.
  - MengerSponge 4y ago
    For people who care: thermopaper receipts are absolutely loaded with BPA. Cashiers have measurably higher serum BPA levels, because they touch them all day long. I generally don't take or touch receipts if I can avoid it, but I don't treat them like they're radioactive. The dose makes the poison, and I haven't figured out how to completely eliminate them and still function in society.
    - trafficante 4y ago
      With the initial Covid protocols training everybody into becoming constant receptacles for hand sanitizer, thermal receipt paper is probably worth being concerned about at this point. Using hand sanitizer increases the absorption rate of BPA and other chemicals by a factor of 100 or more - https://www.newsweek.com/hand-sanitizer-speed-absorption-bpa-receipts-279232 https://www.newsweek.com/hand-sanitizer-speed-absorption-bpa...
      - 6510 4y ago
        printing with ink is not madly expensive. Thermal paper should just be banned. Its a ridiculous product anyway the way it just goes blank long before the warranty expires. https://www.digitalcheck.com/receipts-thermal-ink-costs/ https://www.digitalcheck.com/receipts-thermal-ink-costs/ > There’s one other small difference that’s become important in the battle between thermal and ink: the use of company logos on receipts. As it turns out, this is a key factor in the cost of paper, and tips the break-even point in favor of thermal if you want your receipts to have a distinctive look. Ordinarily, plain receipt paper can be had for as little as 40 cents per 150-foot roll, while thermal paper comes in longer rolls (220 or 230 feet) that cost around 80 cents – so you get 25-30% more paper for your dollar with the standard variety.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]