Plastic ID Codes & what they mean

(Photo credit: Nemo's great uncle)

I've been looking for a list like this that tells me the not-so-good and the better plastics. Yea Ideal Bite! Thanks for the list!

• Safer plastics:

#1 - PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) - water and mouthwash bottles, cups, peanut butter jars, and TV dinner trays; not known to leach any toxic by-products.

#2 - HDPE (high-density polyethylene) - butter tubs, milk jugs, juice, household cleaner, and shampoo bottles; also low risk of leaching.

#4 - LDPE (low-density polyethylene) - squeezable bottles; you probably won't encounter many 4s, as LDPE is usually used for bags, but it also has a low risk of leaching.

#5 - PP (polypropylene) - straws, yogurt containers, syrup, ketchup, and medicine bottles; low risk of leaching.

• Not so much:

#3 - PVC (polyvinyl chloride) - cooking oil bottles, food packaging, and plastic wrap; some 3s can leach phthalates, which can cause reproductive abnormalities.

#6 - PS (polystyrene) - egg cartons, meat trays, and Stryofoam; when heated, some 6s can release styrene, a suspected carcinogen.

#7 - Other - gallon-size water bottles, and baby bottles; some 7s are safe, but some are polycarbonates and may leach BPA (linked to enlarged male breasts, earlier puberty in girls, and cancer).

Blessings in your Adventure,