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PVC Plastics in Food Packaging
PVC food packaging can be the “cling” plastic wrap around your cheese, the plastic trays in boxed cookies or chocolates, candy bar wrappers, and bottles.
The toxic chemical additives in PVC can leach from the plastic “cling” wrap to food. These chemicals can volatilize on standing and especially through heat exposure.
Microwaving provides a sufficient temperature to cause the chemicals in PVC plastic to volatilize. Unfortunately, this means that many people are exposed to plasticizing chemicals through food wrapping every day.
SAFETY TIP! Do not heat or re-heat food that is wrapped or covered in plastic cling wrap. Some re-heatable snack foods such as burritos, pot pies, mac and cheese, come in containers that might include plastic wrap. Take these foods out of the wrap and place them on a microwaveable dish.
Alternatives – Buy only PVC-free plastic wrap, or better yet, wrap foods and sandwiches in wax paper. There are growing numbers of wax paper products, including sandwich bags, in grocery stores.
Look for the #3 (recycling) symbol on the bottom of the packaging.
For example, you can often find #3 on the bottom of the plastic trays that cookies are packaged in.
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