Check your plastic container recycling number. Is it 7?

**Edbear** · 17th January 2010, 10:46

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/16/he...html?th&emc=th
New stance from the FDA.

**hayd3n** · 17th January 2010, 10:50

7 can be any other plastic

(7) OTHER

Letters below indicate ISO code for plastic type

e.g SAN, ABS, PC, Nylon
Includes all other resins and multi materials (e.g. laminates). Properties depend on plastic or combination of plastics Car parts, appliance parts, electronics, water cooler bottles, packaging Car parts, concrete aggregate, plastic timber

**Edbear** · 17th January 2010, 11:36

I think food containers in NZ are either a 1 or 2.

**rainman** · 17th January 2010, 13:50

Originally Posted by TFA

Dr. Sharfstein said the drug agency had become more receptive to new techniques of studying the safety of chemicals. Old methods involved giving test animals large doses and looking for clear evidence of effects like illness, tumors or organ damage. Newer methods involve studying small doses — similar to human exposures — and looking for more subtle effects, like changes in behavior or biochemistry. Results can be harder to interpret and may demand more study.

Science, dontcha just love it.

I'm sure the scientific-industrial complex is looking out for us peons. Yeah right!

**Magua** · 17th January 2010, 14:30

Originally Posted by Edbear

I think food containers in NZ are either a 1 or 2.

They can be higher. Check the number on the plastic container that your chinese takeaways come in next time around.

Edit, after posting that I took a lot myself, Number 5.

**PrincessBandit** · 17th January 2010, 15:13

We had a big thing like that a few years back regarding plastic water sipper bottles which our kids used as water bottles during training at swimming. There was research which highlighted concern about chemicals in the bottles suggesting that once they'd been emptied of their original contents they shouldn't be reused as drink bottles. Barely a few months later it was announced that there was nothing to worry about after all. But they'd certainly made a big issue of it at the time.

**klingon** · 17th January 2010, 16:51

If in doubt, use glass. Obviously glass has disadvantages (weight, fragility, etc) but I use glass or glazed ceramic whenever possible and plastic only when I really need to. For example I never heat food in plastic containers, or store it for a long time, or store anything that's high in fat/oil or very acidic. Glass is the way to go in that situation.

For example I store leftovers in the fridge in a glass bowl with a plate on top. Who needs glad wrap?

And at home or in the office I drink water out of... (gasp)... a glass! I can understand using a bottle when your jogging or cycling but do you really need to drink out of a plastic bottle at work?!

**Ixion** · 17th January 2010, 18:28

Cast iron FTW.

**Usarka** · 17th January 2010, 18:31

Originally Posted by Magua

They can be higher. Check the number on the plastic container that your chinese takeaways come in next time around.

Edit, after posting that I took a lot myself, Number 5.

Awesome for reheating in the microwave. Safe as houses under a 1990's building code.

**Edbear** · 17th January 2010, 18:35

It would be interesting to see the difference in standards here. From the article it is the 7 classification that is most likely to contain BPA so one would assume that food and drink containers here do not being of stricter standards.

It does indicate, though that we should be thinking about the products we use as history is full of examples of flawed science and assurances from authorities as to the safety of substances and products. Remember the old Signal toothpaste with "Hexachlorophene, (sp), in the stripes"?

**The Lone Rider** · 18th January 2010, 00:22

I work full time in plastic industry.

I wouldn't cook anything using plastic... the stuff that goes into it is HORRIBLE.

**hayd3n** · 18th January 2010, 05:57

Originally Posted by The Lone Rider

I work full time in plastic industry.

I wouldn't cook anything using plastic... the stuff that goes into it is HORRIBLE.

comes out looking pretty sweet tho
and cmon were bikers weve got other things to worry bout like buses/campervans and gravel on corners

**HenryDorsetCase** · 10th March 2010, 11:32

Originally Posted by klingon

If in doubt, use glass. Obviously glass has disadvantages (weight, fragility, etc) but I use glass or glazed ceramic whenever possible and plastic only when I really need to. For example I never heat food in plastic containers, or store it for a long time, or store anything that's high in fat/oil or very acidic. Glass is the way to go in that situation.

For example I store leftovers in the fridge in a glass bowl with a plate on top. Who needs glad wrap?

And at home or in the office I drink water out of... (gasp)... a glass! I can understand using a bottle when your jogging or cycling but do you really need to drink out of a plastic bottle at work?!

cycling: use a camelbak bottles are for foadie rags

work: I use a glass but you have to be careful to not knock it over and then have to dry out your files/MP3 player/PC etc. trust me on this.

**MisterD** · 10th March 2010, 11:45

Originally Posted by Edbear

From the article it is the 7 classification that is most likely to contain BPA so one would assume that food and drink containers here do not being of stricter standards.

Except that I have a fancy Camelbak bottle on my desk that specifically does not contain BPA...recyling number? 7.