Page 63 - Plastics News Issue November - 2024
P. 63
IN THE NEWS
Plastics and Food Safety:
Advances in BPA-Free and Food-Grade Materials
resins. This has been commonly applied in wa-
ter bottle and foods containers and can also be
used to line canned foods. However, the various
years of research show that BPA can end up in
food and beverages through heating pose vari-
ous risks to the health of people.
BPA acts like estrogen in the body and its ef-
fects include hormone related cancers, repro-
ductive disorders, and developmental disorders
in young children. For these reasons, consumer
and manufacturers have been searching for the
next best plastics that are not made from BPA.
The Rise of BPA-Free Plastics
Due to these health issues, there has been high
demand for BPA free plastics across the market.
ood storage and packaging remain some BPA free means that the plastic does not have
of the primary uses of plastics in our day Bisphenol A to pose the dangers of the dan-
Fto day lives. It is used in making water and gerous chemicals running into the food that is
juice bottles, food covers, plates, and anything placed in those plastics. The manufacturers have
that you think you can easily carry or use for a also opted using other kinds of chemicals such
long time. But controversies over the risks as- as bisphenol S (BPS) or bisphenol F (BPF) for
sociated with some plastics especially those use instead of BPA. Though there are still stud-
containing Bisphenol A (BPA) have however ies being conducted to understand if they are
seen development of safer, BPA free, and foods completely safe for use since they have some
grade plastics. It is now time to understand what structure resemblance to BPA.
these terms imply in their broadest sense and
their implications on our health and safety. Sometimes you need to buy products which are
free of BPA; and while doing so, you open water
Understanding BPA and its Risks bottles, food storing tins, baby foods and bot-
tles and pacifiers and all contain the note: ‘No
The chemical compound known as bisphenol A BPA’. Such labeling makes it easier for the con-
has the common name BPA and is employed in sumer to decide on what material they want to
the production of some forms of plastics and
bring in their homes.
November 2024 PLASTICS NEWS 63
