Everyday, we use plastic as container either for food or beverages. In my home, I have many plastics such as cup, dish, bottle and we use them regularly. I used to carry water in plastic bottle whenever I went. It’s simple and easy to replace it and I was not afraid if my bottle disappears or damage. After using plastics, I could throw out them into trash bin soon, not necessary to clean them. It was very efficient and cheap. But as I know how danger plastic container for food and beverages, I stop refilling my bottle. From some articles, I read each kind of plastic has different level of danger for human body health. If we are able to identify them, we can minimize negative impacts of plastic.
Danger level of plastic is represented by number and symbol. The Numbers and symbols are to express what material product may harm you. By knowing the number or symbol, you can choose safer material for your health. For instance you can see the number and symbol usually on the bottom of container. If you have drinking bottle now, please see the bottom.
Consider this. At the bottom, like this bottle, it is added on number and symbol, in this case number…. and PET symbol. This number means bottle recommend for one time only, do not refill it. Symbol PET means this material not recommended for warm and hot water. Of course, question rising, why?
Much plastic material contains toxic chemical that may harm your body. One of the cruelest substances is DIOXIN. Dioxin inside plastic while meet hot food or beverage will release out bit by bit. Imagine, you eat hot food every day use plastic dish. You eat food plus dioxin as well. Accumulation dioxin in your body for many years will cause cancer and other critical diseases.
One important thing, never ever use plastic for cooking in your microwave especially for fatty food. Combination among fat, high temperature and plastic dispense dioxin into the food and your body finally. So, in case you want to heat up food in microwave, please use corning ware, Pyrex or ceramic. It’s still available many options.
You can not heat up food with plastic material in microwave but you still use plastic container for other purposes. We still apply plastic for food or beverage. Look at the bottom of plastic and select number 4 and 5 along symbol PP. These numbers mean plastic not toxic, can be refilled, and recycle friendly. Plastic with these numbers do not contain dioxin. Researcher already determined 4 and 5 as representation safer plastic material and government have validated them with regulation.
In fact we still find many plastics material without number and symbol in market, mostly made in Indonesian. It is a must for all material add on number symbol and Indonesian government obligates it. Doing smart shopping in case you need plastic. Choose plastic number four and five for better life and apply appropriate material for cooking.[m.nizar abdurrani]
