If you're looking to create plastic food packaging, it's essential that you understand which plastics are food-safe. Food-safe plastic resins are those approved for contact with edibles by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are known as food contact substances (FCS).
The FDA defines substaintí teagmhála bia as "any substance that is intended for use as a component of materials used in manufacturing, packing, packaging, transporting, or holding food."
Seo iad na roisíní plaisteacha is coitianta atá ceadaithe ag an FDA le haghaidh teagmhála bia.
Teireaftaláit poileitiléine (PET)
Úsáidtear roisín PET go forleathan i plaistigh a bhfuil feidhmeanna teagmhála bia acu, ó na buidéil sóid 2-lítear uileláithreach go buidéil chóirithe sailéid go prócaí im peanut. Déantar formhór mór na mbuidéil óil aonair riartha as PET. Go háirithe-tá coimeádáin PET cóireáilte go speisialta in ann micreathonú agus úsáidtear iad i gcoimeádáin thógála amach agus i dtráidirí bia aon-fhreastal.
The FDA has approved both virgin and post-PET athchúrsáilte do thomhaltóirí (PCR) le haghaidh teagmhála le bia. The resin has been thoroughly studied for negative health effects and found to cause none. According to a foundational study, "PET itself is támh go bitheolaíoch má ionghabháil í, go bhfuil sé sábháilte go deirm le linn láimhseála, agus nach guais í má ionanálaítear é."
PET resin is stable. That means it doesn't degrade when in contact with food or beverages, it resists corrosion, and it repels microorganisms. These qualities that make it ideal for food contact.
Polapróipiléin (PP)
Polypropylene is a widely used plastic. You likely have polypropylene plastic in your fridge and cupboards right now: it's regularly used in reusable food storage containers. It's also the resin used to make yogurt containers and other single-serving tubs.
PP plastics are approved for food contact. They are ábhair támha agus nach gcuireann siad guais sláinte na dtomhaltóirí. The FDA began to polapróipiléine athchúrsáilte a cheadú mar bhia-sábháilte in 2013.
Polypropylene's high melting point makes it suitable for microwaveable food containers. It's nonvolatile and doesn't react to liquids, acids, or bases, so it's perfect to store a wide variety of foods.
Polaitiléin Ard-Dlúis (HDPE)
Is é HDPE an plaisteach tí is coitianta. Ag an siopa grósaera, feiceann tú go leor buidéil phlaisteacha HDPE sa aisle sú agus sa chás bainne. Úsáidtear HDPE freisin i gcoimeádáin ime, líneálacha bosca gránach, agus i mbuicéid mhóra bia, mar iad siúd a sholáthraíonn caifitéire agus bialanna scoile.
Virgin HDPE is a safe plastic for food contact. The FDA has sanctioned recycled HDPE do theagmháil bia ar bhonn cás ar-le breis agus 20 bliain.
HDPE resin produces plastic that is corrosion-resistant and absorbs little moisture, making it well-suited for storing beverages. Also, HDPE containers don't leach chemicals into their contents.
Íseal-Polaitiléin Dlúis (LDPE)
Tá plaistigh LDPE cosúil le plaistigh HDPE ach is eol nach bhfuil siad chomh docht. Tá tóir orthu i mbuidéil squeeze, mar a úsáidtear le haghaidh ketchup agus mustaird; scannáin phlaisteacha, mar iad siúd a chumhdaíonn earraí bácáilte tráchtála agus feoil; agus sé-bhfháinne pacáiste.
Virgin LDPE resins are safe for food contact. While recycled LDPE/PP blends have been approved for food contact by the FDA on dhá ócáidí, ní dhéantar ábhair a dhéantar as roisín PCR LDPE 100 faoin gcéad a ghlanadh le haghaidh teagmháil bia.
Tá friotaíocht ceimiceach maith ag LDPE, neart ard-thionchar, agus ionsú caitheamh láidir. Cosúil le plaistigh PET agus HDPE, is féidir le LDPE do tháirgí bia a choinneáil gan aon ábhair dhochracha a láisteadh nó ligean do mhiocrorgánaigh dul trí bhíthin.
Polacarbónáit (PC)
Úsáidtear polacarbónáit go coitianta i mbuidéil uisce, i mbuidéil leanaí agus i gcoimeádáin uisce in-athúsáidte.
There's been a lot of discussion the past few years about the food safety of polycarbonate because there is bisphenol A (BPA) in the resin). BPA is rumored to be hazardous to health. Because of the public scrutiny, it has been extensively tested. The tá meán-iontógáil BPA na dtomhaltóirí an-íseal, and ní charnann an ceimiceán sa chorp. No health risks are known to exist at such small levels, and the FDA has ar an gconclúid go bhfuil sé sábháilte do theagmháil le bia. Tá roinnt déantúsóirí tar éis{0}}co-co-poileistear FDA a chur in ionad coimeádáin shoiléire atá saor ó BPA-.
PC is an especially tough plastic (it's used for bullet-resistant windows), making it ideal for "unbreakable" water bottles and storing large amounts of a product.
