Oh dear plastic bags… Reusing them could seem like the perfect trick to hold your food at the supermarket, but science doesn’t agree with this. Marián Zapién, a food engineer and content creator about food safety, is warning now that those plastic bags can contaminate what you eat. But this is not it; it can also release chemical contaminants to your plates.
In many countries, like Mexico, a lot of people reuse their plastic bags to freeze things, marinate stuff, or wrap food; however, they are not made to have direct contact with food or to be used too many times. In fact, they can be carrying dust, bacteria, or the residue of some other products. And wait, there’s more: the ink for the prints on the bag can also go to your food, especially if it’s hot or greasy.
A study from the U.S. National Library of Medicine found that ink from printed plastic containers, like the ones from candy or fried food, can transfer to the interior and so to your food. Besides, we also know today that microplastic can also migrate from the plastic into your food, and some components can lead to serious risks like cancer.
This is why, although they are useful (there’s no doubt about that), they are not a safe container for your food. There are way too many chemical contaminant risks.
Plastic bags to store food? I don’t think so
Marián Zapién explains it very well: “Plastic bags from the supermarket are exposed to various environments, making them highly susceptible to contamination by microorganisms, dirt, or other chemicals, which causes cross-contamination of your food.” Yes, that bag probably went all around boxes, and floors, and cars, and different hands.. If you put some sliced fruit in there, bread, or even meat, that dirt ends up in your food.
These bags are not certified “food grade.” They’re definitely not designed for any direct contact with food, not even to use that long. And as said before, the ink that’s sometimes printed on is not always formulated to be on the inside of the bag. But since the plastic bags are usually rolled up before using, some ink can go where it shouldn’t.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has reported the ink issue when it comes to plastic bags. How can it happen?
- There might be contact after the printing is done: If the plastic is rolled up, the printed side can touch the internal side, and then it touches your aliments.
- Heat, grease, and friction: High temperatures or greasy food can make it more vulnerable, and then simple friction might transfer too.
- Time and conditions: days, hours, and months pass by, and that poor bag is receiving sun, UV radiation, wind, rain, getting wet, and then dry again from the sun… all of these factors improve the risk.
With microplastics, it’s similar and somehow different. These small fragments can fall off from the plastic travel glued to them. It takes a long, long time for it to disintegrate, and on top of it, they’re like sponges, realizing they own additives and absorbing other chemical contaminants from the environment.
What can we use instead of plastic bags ?
There’s a simple rule you can put into practice: the bags from the supermarket work to transport your groceries, not to store food.
What can you use if you need something to put your food in?
- Food-grade containers, like BPA-free plastic, glass, or stainless steel
- Aliment bags that are designed to freeze or stock (with stamps and the right materials)
- Waxed or paraffined paper can be good to separate portions inside a container.