This is What You Need to Know If You’re Using Plastic Bags for Food

[Baby Leone]

Plastic bags have become a necessity in our daily life.

In Pakistan, it isn’t hard to find plastic bags in homes and shops for whatever needs to be packed or carried.

However, people should be aware that its quite dangerous to use in certain situations.

If you ever wanted to know how dangerous the use of plastic bags are, especially when it comes to storing and transporting food items in it, then read on.

Use of Plastic Bags For Edibles
It is an established fact that when a hot substance comes in contact with plastic, several toxic substances, including the cancer-causing Bisphenol A, are released as a result, and get mixed with the food inside.

Now think of all the packed meals that you often buy from the market for eating in low-grade plastic bags! Alarming isn’t it?

In fact, the use of non-biodegradable plastic is prohibited all across the world. In 1995, the Pakistani government passed a law against the use of plastic bags that featured a density of less than 300 microns. However, it was never really implemented.

These plastic bags are not only causing different digestive issues, including the production of malignant cells, but also, our sewerage systems are getting choked due to these.

Most of the plastic shoppers are usually made from the worst form of recycled plastic which doesn’t decompose even after several years. The other way of disposing them off is to burn them which again spreads air pollution.

How to Avoid These Issues
There are plenty of ways through which these limitless hazards of plastic can be controlled, especially when carrying edibles:

• Use utensils made of steel or glass for packing food, especially hot meals
• Avail reusable bags for groceries
• Avoid low quality plastic bags with a thin shiny texture
• If needed, use biodegradable plastic bags for carrying stuff other than edibles

Other than plastic bags, we normally come across food packed in plastic boxes which also carry the same hazards. A very simple tip for you to check whether a plastic box or utensil can be used for carrying edibles is to check the triangle sign that is usually embedded at the back of it.

If your plastic box is rated from the numbers 1, 2, 4, or 5 it is okay to use. If not, those boxes are probably suited for other things.

Remember these simple tips to improve your health and environment both.

 

[Valar.]

Plastic bags should be banned. A decade ago, mayor of Karachi banned them for some weeks or month but couldn't implement the ban in the end. Shame.

 

[Divergent]

Bin them for Pete’s Sake

 

[Hyde]

in UK they charge 5p for each plastic bag when you are shopping in retail stores, the effect is huge that 80% have stopped using plastic bags. I was quite shy of using plastic bags when I went to Spain recently as the 5p charge meants we only buy the plastic bags that we need rather than filling one product each in single bag

The 5p charge should be in every country of the world, obviously in their local currencies so that use of plastic bags can be discouraged

 

[Azadkashmir]

bpa free brother. yeah 5p for bag but cheekily it is put on the person not the manufacturer or big industry they get away.