Storing food is pivotal in a bid to reduce waste and to optimize on resources. In many kitchens, the main method of storage is through the use of plastics. They range from plastic containers to wraps and boxes. In fact, most people will have food stored in plastic bags in their fridge or freezer. Are these storage bags safe for use?
This is the all-important question for us preppers. Nobody would intentionally jeopardize their health and that of their family members. This article explores this issue to make sure that you make informed decisions about your food storage choices.
Of course, debates have been rife about the safety of plastics and not ignoring the matter will lead to eye-opening facts and even solutions. In the past few years, plastics have been making headlines for the wrong reasons.
When it comes to food storage, it is important to look at the possible effects if any. Knowing whether there are safer alternatives to plastics will give people healthier options. The end result will be a healthy happy society.
Top concerns about plastic food storage bags
People often wonder about the toxicity that may be brought about by plastics. The storage bags are great in organizing kitchens; having said this, any evidence of toxicity would override any household organizational merits the plastics have.
Indeed, some professionals in holistic health are convinced that plastics for food storage are a health hazard. These experts cite the emission of various chemicals from the plastics through chemical leaching. This food transfer can cause harm to our health in their view.
This applies to all plastic storage items including bags, boxes and wraps. Is there evidence to demonstrate plastic toxicity transferred to food? It is always good to act on evidence rather than just assumptions and below is an insight in this respect.
There is some evidence that shows that plastic storage items can indeed cause health problems like fertility issues, fetal development issues as well as cancer. Some evidence has shown more health problems caused by plastic-related chemicals.
A 2015 report showed that over 170 plastic chemicals were found in some foods and drinks stored using plastics. The report suggested that when food and drinks are heated while in contact with some plastic storage items, the chemicals would be released causing the toxicity to the food. More so, cling film was found to be detrimental when used in the microwave.
There are many chemicals emitted by plastics, but there is one that is highly notable owing to its ill effects. This is BPA or Bisphenol A. This chemical is still used widely by plastic manufacturers.
Related reading: Long-Term Food Storage Methods
BPA can be found in some cling films, freezer bags and even plastic bottles. The reason why BPA has been linked with fertility problems is its ability to disrupt the endocrine system. The chemical can mess the hormones and lead to serious fertility concerns in women.
It works like the female hormone estrogen. When there is a hormonal malfunction in both men and women, this can lead to more health conditions in addition to fertility issues. Hormonal imbalance can cause anxiety, depression, cancer; the list goes on and on. When the plastics are new, there no immediate danger of BPA contamination to food and drink items.
However, old plastics will decay and start emitting the chemical more freely. This means that the more you reuse plastics containing BPA, the more you pose a health danger to you and your family.
Some plastics manufacturers have stopped using BPA and many have opted to use a safer and less toxic plastic. This alternative is PET or polyethylene terephthalate. Polythene and PET plastics are in compliance with the safety legislation in the UK and Europe.
So far, this alternative has not been linked to any health problems. This literally means that you can choose to buy a safer plastic storage bag for your food. Knowing what your plastics are made of is the first step in the right direction.
Food hygiene concerns
When reusing these plastic storage bags for food, there is also a concern regarding food contamination. Some people will wash the plastics and then use them to store leftovers and other foods in the fridge or freezer. However, the bacteria in meat is hard to eliminate even after washing. In fact, a dishwasher cannot effectively clean out the bacteria.
To this end, storing the fresh food could mean incubating a larger problem leading to food poisoning. Some of the most notorious bacteria include salmonella and E.coli. Therefore, you must be very careful when reusing the bags. Avoid reusing plastics in the kitchen especially when they have stored raw meats and fish. Cleaning them in the sink could lead to cross-contamination. Therefore, the best thing is to completely remove the bags from the kitchen after use.
Why FoodSaver vacuum storage bags are an excellent Alternative
To keep your food safe and fresh for longer periods of time, you might want to consider using FoodSaver vacuum storage bags. These bags and rolls are made using several layers of polyethylene. That’s not all, the outer layer of the bag is made using nylon which reinforces the rigidity and sturdiness.
Because they are free from BPA, you can reuse them as you wish without worrying about chemical leaching. Also, they are excellent for microwave use.
While stored in the fridge and freezer, your food will not lose the original flavor. This is because the FoodSaver bags lock in moisture effectively to seal all the food goodness within.
Another great merit about these alternative bags is that they are washable and can be placed in the dishwasher as well. This will make reusing them even easier. However, it is critical not to reuse bags that have stored raw fish and fresh meat. This cannot be overemphasized, bacteria in raw meat is hard to eradicate completely.
FoodSaver storage bags are also fitted with vacuum sealing technology. This system ensures that you store your food up to 5 times longer than ordinary storage bags. This is the sure way to avoid wastage; to fully enjoy the flavor of your food together with your family and friends.
Useful resources to check out:
The vital self-sufficiency lessons our great grand-fathers left us
This ONE THING Can Help You Terminate Your Store-Bought Dependency
Knowledge to survive any medical crisis situation
Thank you for the info… keep up the dam good work that you do… thanks for caring… GOD Bless…
Are other bags, similar to ‘Food Saver’ bags also safer to use, what should we look for on the label of the bags?
Thank you for the great article.