Let's talk glass and food packaging and safety - share your thoughts and you could win a £250 JL voucher NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We have been asked by the team at Friends of Glass to find out your opinion about health risks from food packaging.

Friends of Glass are an influential European consumer forum that supports and promotes the right of consumers to be able to choose food and drink products in glass packaging. It unites all those who believe glass is the clear choice for their health, their families and for the environment. Friends of Glass was created by British Glass and the European Container Glass Federation (FEVE) in 2009. Their mission is to promote glass packaging and glass recycling.

They say "According to some new research launched today, 2 out of 3 parents in the EU are concerned about the migration of harmful substances from packaging into their children's food and drink. Are you one of these parents? We'd love to find out more about these concerns. We know that chemicals found in some types of food packaging can diffuse into the food and drink they contain in small amounts. There is a body of scientific research that says not enough is known about the effects of these chemicals on the human body and could be harmful to health over the long term. One of the more well-known chemicals, BP-A (Bisphenol A) is banned in children’s food and drink packaging in some countries such as France. You may be aware of the Breast Cancer UK campaign against BP-A called 'No More BPA'.

"We love glass as it's inert and therefore requires no chemical layer to protect its contents, unlike other packaging materials. Of course, glass can break but major advances in the way glass containers are produced have resulted in much lighter yet more resilient bottles and jars. Glass is also 100% recyclable so good for the environment and can be safely used in the microwave, steriliser and dishwasher over and over again with no deterioration".

So please share on this thread your opinion on the following: all comments welcome
~ Do you worry or are you concerned about the safety of food and drink packaging? In what ways do you worry/ are you concerned? Do you understand the issues around this topic? What don't you understand?
~ Are you aware of the safer options? If so, what do you consider them to be?
~ Do you consider glass packaging safer than plastic, and would it be your preference?

Friends of Glass are interested in your views and whether you would like to see more products available in glass packaging and any other views you have on the topic.

Everyone who adds a comment to this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £250 JL voucher.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

PS Friends of Glass are interested in speaking to some MNers directly after this thread - if they'd like to speak to you we will PM you (no obligation)

[tinypumpkin]

~ Do you worry or are you concerned about the safety of food and drink packaging? In what ways do you worry/ are you concerned?

I'm not but perhaps I should be. Life is too crazy at the moment to worry about this (I have enough to worry about!)

Do you understand the issues around this topic? What don't you understand?

Like another poster, I know that there are some issues around BPA. I am not well informed though and probably should be,

~ Are you aware of the safer options? If so, what do you consider them to be?

Not really sure in all honesty. I imagine glass / cardboard (if appropriate) rather than plastic.

~ Do you consider glass packaging safer than plastic, and would it be your preference?

I prefer glass.

[idleweiss]

I really hate the idea of phthalates in plastics, and also the coating inside a lot of tin cans, I try to avoid such packaging unless it is stated that it is free from such chemicals,when it comes to my LOs. I am an avid recycler and recycle as much as I can. I love the fact that cardboard/glass is so easy to recycle and reuse, and buy a lot of products in such packaging. As my children are still quite young, I decant drinks from glass bottles, ie water, into more suitable cups as I would be worried they would drop them and cut themselves. That's the one thing with glass, the shards when broken. I especially hate it when out and about with my LOs and some idiot has smashed glass and it is all over the ground!so dangerous...I really dislike the fact that a lot of plastics cannot be recycled....and also get frustrated that a lot of people do not recycle (or can't be arsed to do it properly!) or understand how important it is!! Grrr!

[Hopezibah]

~ Do you worry or are you concerned about the safety of food and drink packaging? In what ways do you worry/ are you concerned? Do you understand the issues around this topic? What don't you understand?

I've heard of the BPA issue but don't know much about it and don't buy specifcally BPA free - but do feel reaasured when kids plastic drinks bottles eg baby feeding bottles are BPA free.
~ Are you aware of the safer options? If so, what do you consider them to be?
BPA free plastic. I didn't know about glass as a safe alternative before now - so more awareness raising would be good.
~ Do you consider glass packaging safer than plastic, and would it be your preference?
I would worry about the safety aspect of glass for kids in terms of breakages. I like the feel of glass - makes products 'feel' nicer quality like when you get glass bottles of water in hotel rooms and those little glass bottles of cola always seem more special.
If there was some reassurance about less likely to break / smash and harm the kids that way, I would feel happier about glass packaging.

Glass always feels more 'recyclable' than plastic and feels better for the environment too.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

I live in Canada where we have more regulation of plastics. I love glass and stainless steel for my DD's food. I do use plastics but would rather use glass, especially if it is to be repeatedly heated and cooled. I would HINT always buy glass if it were the same cost HINT.

[Sweetmotherfudger]

I would love to seem more foods in glass rather than plastics but I have to admit my main concern is sustainability as I love that glass can be formally or informally recycled.

I'm not sure that the heaviness put me off as I walk to the shops so do several shops a week rather than one big one.

I do try and use options like cardboard and now I've given it more thought I will more!

[Bubbles85]

I do t really worry about things being packaged in plastic. I do however make a point of not heating food up in plastic containers. When we are being lazy and getting ready made meals from the supermarket I always remove the food from the packaging before microwaving as I worry that chemicals leak out at high temperatures. I like the idea of glass instead.

[DurhamDurham]

I never used to give it a thought. I confess to thinking that people who went on about the dangers of using plastic items for babies were slightly nutty.

However I have seen information recently where there was a clear demonstration of the chemical reaction to plastic bottles of water which were left in a car for a few days. I wouldn't drink water out of a plastic bottle now...unless I was desperate. When my girls were little I used to worry about having glass bottles and glasses near them, in case it broke and they got cut. If I had to to it all again I think I would be more worried about all the plastic I exposed them to.

[SixImpossible]

I don't know enough to have an informed opinion. I know that plastic degrades and that there are concerns regarding leeching.

[solastyear]

I am slightly concerned about chemicals in plastic leeching into bottled water etc. Glass is preferable but not always an option / more expensive , heavier to transport / carry and risk of breakage.

[ilovereading]

Glass, for me, is infinitely preferable over plastic packaging. I loathe all the millions of plastic milk bottles and microwaveable containers on sale, and find it really difficult to find alternatively packaged products when shopping for food (I do actively look for these, and am even prepared to pay a premium for more environmentally friendly packaging such as Tetrapaks). All the plastic food containers pile up so fast; and, in our area anyway, aren't apparently recycleable either. So I presume they have to go to landfill / get incinerated, eventually.... no doubt thereby releasing toxic chemicals in the process ... which will then leach into the water supply, and come back to us.

Wasn't there some alarming research done, a while back, showing how these chemical by-products are already having a feminizing effect on males, in both the human and animal worlds? (as they create harmful dioxins which mimic female hormone effects on males). Also increasing cancer risks. Since I read this, I always decant any readymade product from a microwaveable container into a glass one for heating up. You can tell just from the smell of hot or burning plastic (eg in bonfires) that it can't be good for you. I find it so ludicrous to consider that a quick 10 minute microwave meal can be over so quickly, yet leaves packaging that will probably take decades to disappear/degrade in the earth.

I just can't understand how the major supermarkets can remain so insouciant about the obvious, serious environmental implications of all their use of plastic. More glass packaging would be great, but I think - for it to work properly - there really would need to be much more powerful effective consumer incentives, ie: returnable deposits on glass containers, so more people (not just the conscientious ones) would be much more motivated in recycling the glass to get their money back. Also, glass can be heavy, and there is the breakage/safety issue; but if it could be made lighter and more shatterproof, that would help. I do like the idea of buying 'unpackaged' products from bulk shops (see upthread) - but for me the issue here would be that I'd need to be able to keep the food I'd bought this way, fresh, for as long as possible, and that has to do with the quality of packaging as well.

[ilovereading]

Just want to add also that some recycled glass products can be really attractive, and it would be nice to see more of them available generally in the UK. I'd buy them.

BTW, can we actually be sure that all our trips to the bottle banks in this country do actually result in all the glass being recycled? I have heard once that the glass gets collected, but that sometimes, it just ends up in landfill anyway! (depending on the local authority) - I wonder if that is sometimes true? Local councils/MPs do need to be proactive, have integrity and commitment and take a proper lead on this, IMO - for effective recycling, it's a team effort and everyone needs to be doing their bit as much as possible. Not recycling needs to be made more socially unacceptable too. (Maybe those who don't recycle could be named/ shamed/ fined? - a bit like those who don't clear up after their dogs! - Don't people have to recycle, by law, in Germany? A bit harsh maybe, but it could be the only real way forward....)

[SacreBlue]

I have heard of BPA and generally the concerns over chemicals leaching into food - particularly when microwaved. I find this concerning enough to prefer glass over plastics, and to decant into glass if microwaving, nit not so much as to stop me buying things in plastics which I can't find in glass.

We have kerbside collection for glass here in Belfast but often I will just wash and reuse glass jars for other things e.g. decanting things I've bought in tins if we aren't using the whole tin in one go, or as little vases/tealight holders.

I would love to have milk in bottles again as well but would be buying lots so deliveries again would be superb - we still have Maine lemonade deliveries.

I expect it might be difficult for deliveries when so many of us are out of the house at work these days, and we are all a bit more aware of theft, but some organic farms round here are doing delivered boxes in the city so it's not impossible.

The major safety factor about plastic packaging is ending up wanting to kill someone with the scissors you had to break three nails, wrench a tooth and stab repeatedly with a knife in order to get them out of their plastic pack.

[TitusFlavius]

I long for the return of the proper milkman/milkwoman, who drops it off at the door in a glass bottle and takes the empties away.

[Wickeddevil]

do I worry yes a little, and I look for BPA free if available (childrens drink bottles) for example. I also think food tastes better from glass; DH and I were discussing this re tomato ketchup last week. Sensibly it shouldn't taste different, but we both think it might . I also don't like drinking water from plastic glasses, I prefer the real thing, and I can't ever imagine drinking from a plastic bottle.
safer option I have limited knowledge here other than when something is glass or says BPA free on the label. Given the choice I would chose either of these though so long as it is practical.
glass vs plastic I would consider glass as long as it is a practical alternative for the person or activity. For small children or frail elderly the weight of glass can be an issue, and there are potential risks from breakages.
In terms of how green, while I like the idea of recycling glass, I genuinely don't know how environmentally friendly this would be if it meant an increase in the weight of products carried by road, and then further transportation of the empties for recycling, thus requiring more journeys/fuel use etc.
I do think this is an interesting debate and would like to learn more

[violetlights]

I worry about plastic packaging but mainly when it is designed to be heated or has been exposed to heat. I prefer not to but ready meals mainly for this purpose. I also would have preferred to have glass babies bottles. I fear that heating plastic results in chemicals being transferred into the food or drink.

I was be very interested in an alternative to plastic packaging. Rather than purely recycling glass packaging though, I'd like to see a return of the 'reusing' system that was used for milk bottles. Why can't this be applied to all packaging?

[Keepcalmanddrinkwine]

~ Do you worry or are you concerned about the safety of food and drink packaging? In what ways do you worry/ are you concerned? Do you understand the issues around this topic? What don't you understand?

I do worry about plastic packaging, in terms of the chemicals involved and their impact upon the environment. I wouldn't say I am fully aware of the issues though, I'm no expert by a long shot. I never keep plastic water bottles in the car and try to avoid heating plastic.

~ Are you aware of the safer options? If so, what do you consider them to be?

The children's drinks bottles are BPA free. I think glass and tetrapack are better alternatives.

~ Do you consider glass packaging safer than plastic, and would it be your preference?

Safer and nicer, but I would be concerned about the environmental impact of using more glass. I know it can be recycled but the energy use involved is pretty significant. If packaging could be reused more that would be the way forward in my opinion.

[Back2Two]

Hi
Yes, I do think/worry about it. For my children's health as well as my own/my husbands.
I would attempt to buy glass rather than plastic bottles for example.
It's a sort of "niggling" issue rather than a pressing issue but I would like to be better informed in general.
I am less likely to buy bottled water now because of my little bit of awareness that it may be a health risk ( something was circulated on Facebook about BPA and breast cancer and plastic bottles left in the warmth of the car?)
I'd also not re-use plastic bottles (I used to refill them with water) because of the risks so they seem a more wasteful purchase even if I re-cycle them.
Recycling glass seems like the best option and I would buy glass over plastic.
Basically, I much prefer glass and would expect that the drink tastes way better too.

[ChasedByBees]

I worry about plastics and try to avoid heating things in plastic containers mainly ready meals, ahem, even though the damage has already been done

I transfer things to ceramic or glass containers for the microwave for example.

I'd much prefer to be able to buy things in glass but there's very little choice.

[telsa]

~ Do you worry or are you concerned about the safety of food and drink packaging?
I am very very worried about plastic packaging and the leeching of harmful or unknown materials into food. I also think that they are a burden on resources and wish that there was far less packaging and that we could collect things in our own bags, boxes etc. Much prefer shopping at the market.


~ Are you aware of the safer options? If so, what do you consider them to be?
For drink containers I have always chosen steel and BPA Free stuff.

~ Do you consider glass packaging safer than plastic, and would it be your preference?
Glass is a preference in many cases....for fruit and vegetables, rather than in tins, I. Did have a glass baby bottle once, though I know that these seem to be unpopular because of breakages, but that never happened to me. I use glass food boxes for packed lunches. I would rather have the risk of this inert and easy to clean material breaking than use nasty toxic plastics.

[k8vincent]

I don't worry so much about the safety of the packaging, more the waste and the fact that in spite of better recycling capabilities, our local council don't seem to recycle half the plastic stuff. I would love to buy stuff with less packaging, but often the 'greener' products are just out of our budget. So, it is eat or recyclable packaging.

If glass packaging were price on a par with plastic I would definitely prefer it, but it isn't.

[flamingtoaster]

~ Do you worry or are you concerned about the safety of food and drink packaging? In what ways do you worry/ are you concerned? Do you understand the issues around this topic? What don't you understand?

Yes I am concerned and avoid plastic if there is a glass option available. I do understand the issues. I will choose my oils in a glass bottle, only microwave in glass etc.


~ Are you aware of the safer options? If so, what do you consider them to be?

The safest and most eco friendly option is glass. It doesn't react with anything and it can be recycled.


~ Do you consider glass packaging safer than plastic, and would it be your preference?

Always.

[BikeRunSki]

~ Do you worry or are you concerned about the safety of food and drink packaging? In what ways do you worry/ are you concerned? Do you understand the issues around this topic? What don't you understand?

I dislike plastic packaging, and am concerned about the effects of plasticisers on long term health. As an undergraduate Applied Science student, I was involved in a project to monitor the movement of plasticisiers through cheese. We could not get a "clean" cheese sample, even from the centreal core of a pillow-sised lump of cheddar. I don't think we know the full story on the very hydrocarbon heavy lifestyle we live now.

~ Are you aware of the safer options? If so, what do you consider them to be?
I try to deliberatley shop in places where I can get paper and glass packaging. I live in the countryside, so I can visit farm shops easily, and get my milk delivered straight from the farm in glass bottles. Lots of stuff still in plastic pots - yoghurts - but cheese is cut from a larger cheese and wraped in paper.

~ Do you consider glass packaging safer than plastic, and would it be your preference? I suppose glass is marginally less safe on a day to day scale as there is always the possibility that I might drop a bottle. However, I think I have only dropped two milk bottles in 10 years of milk deliveries, so it's not something I worry about. My 2 and 5 year olds manage to get the milk in from the doorstep quite safely. I consider the long term effects of plastic packaging to be much less safe than the short term effects of breaking a glass milk bottle!

On a global scale, I don't think we can continue the whole manufacture/use/throwaway cycle we have with a lot of plastics still. The reusability of glass is a very strong benefit, and paper is reused for many things or cheaply, easily and widely recycled.

[CointreauVersial]

I can honestly say I've never given a moment's thought to chemicals leaching into food from plastic packaging. Call me naive, but I assume these kinds of things are tested for during development?

Anyway, glass to me often means "premium" but also "heavy" and "fragile". Glass bottles for things like ketchup often result in waste, because the last bit of food is tricky to remove. Recycling-wise it is no different for us, as both glass and plastic is collected by the council.