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)

[FreckledLeopard]

I can't say I am particularly worried about chemicals or plastic packaging. In terms of presentation, I'd say glass 'looks' nicer (glass jars of chutneys or pickles etc), but it certainly has limitations for its use. I mean, you could hardly store raw meat in glass packaging, could you?

Also, glass is not particularly practical for certain foods. The reason I buy mayonnaise or ketchup in plastic bottles is because it's easy to squeeze out the contents. Trying to get ketchup out of a glass bottle is a massive pain.

I recycle all plastics at home (apart from black plastic which the council won't take for some reason), so don't feel as if I'm damaging the environment particularly.

So, all in all, I can't say I'm very concerned at all.

[HeartStarCircleSquare]

I am not super concerned about the health aspects, I am much more disappointed by the environmental impact of too much plastic.

When we lived in Germany all of the glass bottles had a deposit on them. I was happy to pay them- as I got money back! The plastic bottles were even more expensive as they are more important to bring back and recycle.

The best bit was that even people who were not interested in recycling were inadvertently recycling as people would collect the discarded bottles themselves to turn in for the deposit.

[hunhun007]

I do worry about plastics, especially plastic containers which go into microwave or bottled water.
I read quite a bit about harmful properties of plastic containers after they got heated up ...
We used to always keep bottled water in the car, you know just in case... we don't do it any more. We keep water in glass bottle, but they are heavier and can break so it is not ideal as well.
It scares me that I do not know it all. Media do not share this "revelation" with public and despite existence of Mr. Google access to real information isn't as easy as most would think.

[JulesJules]

We still have a milkman and a morning milk delivery in glass bottles which we wash and return - I think this is far preferable to plastic bottles. I really dislike plastic packaging, our recyc will only accept plastic bottles and although we try and reuse containers as much as possible, ultimately they are all going to end up as landfill.

I have to admit the environmental aspect has concerned me more than possible adverse health issues, but I am not very well informed on these

[missorinoco]

I don't worry about the harmful effects of plastic containers, but a niggling part of me wonders if I am naive - I read an article about reusing plastic water bottles and potential harmful effects.

The environmental aspect concerns me, in part when I realized how putting a single wrong plastic item into the recycling renders it all unstable and unable to be recycled.

I agree with he comment about the weight of glass and carrying it home. But if there was a switch i I would probably go with it and switch to internet shopping or more supermarket shopping. I manage to cope with the weight of glass wine bottles....

[GrasshopperNchipmunk]

~ 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?

It's never really crossed my mind to be worried about packaging as I assumed (maybe naively) that it all would be safe. I have found shards of glass in food before on more than one occasion so I guess that I always thought glass would not be a safer option.

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

This isn't a subject that I know much about but I would guess that substance wise glass and natural packaging are likely to be safest. I do like it when fruit and veg are in paper or cardboard packaging.

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

Plastic is not as heavy as glass to carry, which makes shopping easier. If plastic is safe to use then I would probably prefer that, as long as it is recyclable.

[serendipity1980]

I'm not too concerned about BPA because I think that it is phasing out now that people are aware of it. We don't buy many plastic bottles but I am favour of glass - I don't like the amount of plastic we use in this country, it isn't good for the environment. The only downside of glass is that it doesn't bounce on a tiled kitchen floor!

[PlumpPartridge]

Do you worry or are you concerned about the safety of food and drink packaging?
I can't say it's occurred to me until now, to be honest.

Do you understand the issues around this topic?
Only from what I've just read. I think I'd be more concerned about the immediate risk of hurting myself on broken glass than the more nebulous risk posed by plastic poisoning.

What don't you understand?
Many things

Are you aware of the safer options? If so, what do you consider them to be?
I hadn't considered it, really. I suppose I prefer packaging to be reusable and preferably not brittle, so that does mean I lean towards the inert, moldable plastic side of the spectrum. There are so many biological substances out there which are unproven anyway (and I trained as a biological scientist, so am not just a Luddite) that I'm not going to spend my time worrying about yet another one. I'd barricade myself in my house if I went too far down that road.

Do you consider glass packaging safer than plastic, and would it be your preference?
I think no and no are my answers there. Sorry, probably not what you want to hear!

[nerysw]

I've never given it much thought really but always prefer glass as I doubt have any doubt about whether I can recycle it or not. Now I've thought about it I have a new food related worry. Sigh. Glass as often as possible then to reduce stress levels when shopping!

[MyNameIsInigoMontoya]

I don't have big concerns from the safety point of view but I do like the recyclable aspect of glass. I do sometimes worry about the amount of plastics we are putting into the world which don't biodegrade and in many cases can't be (or are not) recycled.

[Ruthiemutch333]

Not really how we make glass environmentally friendly I suppose but I am passionate about collecting both plastic and glass bottles left behind on our local park after 'picnics'.
How can we persuade mums back to the good old days of taking drinks in flasks and thermos jugs or am I just plain old fashioned?

[ataraxia]

I do like glass as it's reusable, recyclable and have a feeling it's healthier e.g. no nasty chemicals and the aftertaste that can sometimes be left on food. However, having broken a glass just this morning, I'd be a bit concerned about safety around children.

[lolancurly]

I don't worry about plastic packaging, but now I am worried that maybe I should be worrying!!! I don't like plastic food containers as it's just plain annoying and a waste; I am never certain if you can recycle all packaging and it seems almost impossible to buy some kinds of fruit of veg without it, certainly in supermarkets. It's hard to envisage glass packaging and how this would work; it makes sense to use it for sauces and milk and juice but not sure that it would work for everything. Also, this could make shopping bags a whole lot heavier! Unless we go back to the good old days of the milkman and get glass packaged goods delivered. But yes, easy to recycle and we all love a trip to the bottle bank, don't we ;)

[deels]

i do worry about the chemicls etc in plastic bottles however with glass bottles my main concern would be it getting smashed and glass being everywhere etc.

id love to get some more info on this issue.

[Lillabet]

I don't worry so much about safety as sustainability. Although plastic can be recycled it has a finite recycling life and once discarded it does not bio degrade. New plastic uses oil resources that are finite and inherently poor for the environment when drilled for, transported and cracked for its constituent parts.
If someone drops a plastic bottle in the sea it stays there and joins the refuse islands in the various oceans our causes wildlife major problems, if someone drops a glass bottle in the sea it sinks and stays there, occasionally being washed up on shore in pieces all ground and smooth.
From the point of view of using it as packaging day to day, it would not bother me in regards to safety or cost much of what I buy us already in glass containers anyway.
I think I've just realised I'm pro glass!

[Carriecakes80]

I always prefer glass,
we recycle all the time,
just hate using plastic,
glass is just fine!
We re-use all our jars
fill them with milkshake,
we even use jam-jars and
fill them with cake!
Glass is easy to wash,
easy to re-use,
using horrible plastic,
just gives me the blues!
Do you know what goes into
everything that is plastic,
believe me now that
glass is more than fantastic!
From the bins outside,
to the food that we eat,
plastic is everywhere,
even under our feet!
but glass containers are air-tight
better for our food!
while plastics are full of
rubbish that for us is no good!
I wish more things were packaged,
in fabulous glass,
but plastic is everywhere,
it is truly a farce!
So if you want to go greener,
don't look to the past!
Just do your best for the world
and recycle your glass!

[EmLH]

I am a born worrier so this is something I have concerned myself with way too much! I won't buy plastic food storage/drinks bottles/kids plates etc unless they state bpa free on them and I try to use aluminium drink bottles over plastic if I can.

I also remove anything that is supposed to be put in the oven/microwaved in its packet and put it into a Pyrex dish or something before heating because I'm paranoid it's bad for you to heat in the plastic.

I would love to buy items in glass packaging and like the idea of returning/recycling it afterwards. I think it would take a lot to change our country's habits though so I'm not holding my breath. It's a shame because initiatives to use glass or bring your own containers to fill would cut out so much waste and help with landfill etc. Can only be a good idea in my opinion and I would even be prepared to pay a premium for it. Plus, everything just looks so much nicer, think GU puds and bonne maman desserts. Appetising and nice to keep afterwards! Also love the retro milk bottles with advertising on, would so buy them if they were revived.

[WhereAreMyGlasses]

~ Do you worry or are you concerned about the safety of food and drink packaging?

I don't actively worry, but know I prbably should.

In what ways do you worry/ are you concerned?

I just don't feel I have enough understanding about what it's made of.

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

What the issues with plastic are. Public friendly information is not as prevelant as other 'issues'

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

I would say glass is

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

Yes, but less convenience. For me, currently, ignorance is bliss and I will continue to use plastic for convenience but am attempting to slowly switch over

[BettyBotter]

~ 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 worry about the safety of food contained in plastics from chemical leaching but my main concern is environmental including the wastage of individually wrapping items and packaging inside packaging. I don't understand the energy costs of the recycling different materials. (e.g. I have heard that plastics we put in the recycling box are shipped to China at great environmental cost.

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

I believe natural materials to be safest (paper, bamboo etc with glass safer than plastic.

~ Do you consider glass packaging safer than plastic, and would it be your preference?
Yes safer in some ways but not always my preference due to weight, less portable and more fragile e.g. in heavy shopping bag. I'm happy to buy my milk in large plastic bottles that I can chuck in the freezer. Glass bottles would be a pain to bring home.

[ImGoingForATwix]

I've got a 7 month old who's been on solids for a month now so this issue is something that's recently come on to my radar as I'm using plastic tubs to freeze/heat/store food that I'm preparing for him. The BPA thing is a worry. Seems to be no clear guidance on it in the UK, but I do need to research this better myself. I don't understand where the biggest risk lies, is it just food being stored in plastic or is it being heated in the plastic that's dangerous? On the face of it, I'd be up for seeing more glass used. I feel like I can trust it! And it's recyclable.

[SueDNim]

I don't heat food in plastic containers, but beyond that I don't worry about using plastic packaging.

I haven't really paid much attention to the risks, so my information comes from my mother's reading of the Daily Mail - which I am sceptical about. She has implied that the risks are worse for boys than girls, so not having a son, I don't worry much.

I'm rather clumsy and have a very hard kitchen floor. The chemical risks of plastic have to be weighed up against the risk of shards of glass all over the floor.

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

I think with all the infinite things to worry about as a parent, I didn't really put much thought into this because as others have said, when you're not offered much choice in packaging you just buy what there is, but since reading your campaign it's really made me think and question what might be going into the dcs' bodies!

FWIW I love glass packaging, Nutella jars and jam jars being my fave. I make my own candles ok, twice so these are great for that. There are so many positives to glass, really.

I think your new slogan should be "if it doesn't come in glass it can kiss my..."

[prettybird]

Not particularly bothered about the safety of plastic (although am aware that some research has raised concerns but think the risk is minimal in the grand scheme of things) but do have a preference for glass.

I recycle as much as possible. All glass jars get kept for home made jams/chutneys/Christmas gifts (eg spiced almonds) and also some smaller bottles (eg to make ever-lasting vanilla essence).

Ds also likes Irn Bru in glass bottles and buys them as a treat for himself (and building up a wee collection to take back for the deposits).

I think in the same way that attitudes have changed towards reusing plastic bags and people now accept keeping their bags to resuse, it would be nice if we could effect the same change in attitude towards glass bottles. It might go some way to compensating for the increased transport costs of the heavier packaging material.

[MerryMarigold]

~ 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 don't really think about this. The only time I have thought about it is in relation to water bottles and try and get the ones that say 'something-free' but I don't even remember what the 'something' is. This is because my children use water bottles every day. But, I wouldn't want them to use glass water bottles. If I think about it, I worry that something is leaking into the food, but I would only really think about it in terms of liquids for some reason, not yoghurt, or peanut butter. I don't understand anything about the issues around this topic. I think there is very little awareness unless I am particularly ignorant (I will go back and RTFT afterwards!).

~ Are you aware of the safer options? If so, what do you consider them to be?
I am aware of the safer plastic, but can't remember until I see it and only really thought of it in terms of water bottles anyway. We drink juice from cartons and milk from milkman in bottles. But I didn't really change to the milkman because of the glass. Thinking about it now, maybe it is a good bonus! I exclusively breastfed my kids so never needed baby bottles.

~ Do you consider glass packaging safer than plastic, and would it be your preference?
Not really a preference to be honest. I get annoyed with the large glass nutella jar (the huge one) as it is so heavy. The peanut butter is in plastic. Also our area does not recycle glass on the bin round, so we need to go to a dedicated recycling area which means we always have a mountain of glass in our front garden and look like alcoholics. I guess it is also habits, so it would be very odd to drink beer or wine out of plastic. Something like yoghurt, I really wouldn't want in glass as we have a lot of it, and it would be very heavy. Unless plastic was proven to be extremely unsafe (eg. more unsafe than chemicals sprayed on fruit and veg.).

[MerryMarigold]

Oh BPA free. That's the one!