The Danger of Plastic Food Storage

You know how they say, “you are what you eat?”
Well, what if that was really true?
We put ourselves at risk every time we store our food in dangerous containers.

Today, there are loads of plastic and polystyrene containers that we use to store and carry food in. We even use these for hot food, like when we get takeaways or leftovers from a restaurant. These containers can leach BPA and other toxic substances into our food and body.

On top of that, we’re making our environment polluted by these containers which can take at least 500 years to decompose!

Is BPA-Free Plastic Safe?

Bisphenol-A (BPA) can cause cancer and other serious illnesses. That’s why many people use a BPA-free alternative.

Maybe this is you. You’re protecting yourself and your whanau by only use BPA-free products.

But as it turns out, BPA-free water bottles and lunch boxes could be just as toxic!

Products that are free of BPA typically contain other chemicals that behave in much the same way – leaching into foods and drinks.

After being absorbed into the body, these chemicals mimic the hormone, estrogen. This increases the risk of cancer, diabetes, obesity and can cause reproductive problems.

And it’s not just BPA. A recent study found that phthalates (a compound found in plastics) is linked to a 20% reduction in male fertility.

Manufacturers’ labels don’t mean much either. In the largest and most comprehensive test of plastic products, researchers examined 455 products and discovered that nearly all of them, including those marketed as BPA-free, leached chemicals that mimicked estrogen.

We wouldn’t call any plastic safe, “some are just safer.”

Public Contamination

It’s a common misconception that polystyrene and plastic products are safe.

This is because they’re everywhere and people assume that a government agency, like the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) wouldn’t allow a health-threatening product to be marketed to the public.

But the EPA National Human Adipose Tissue Survey in 1986 identified styrene residue in 100% of human fat tissue samples they took.

Styrene is used to make polystyrene plastic and it’s a contaminant in all polystyrene foam packages.

This is nothing new. It was first documented in 1972, and then again in 1976.

Meals in Steel offers a wide range of food grade, high-quality stainless steel lunch boxes, mugs and bottles that’ll keep your food safe! Durable design uses 100% food-grade stainless steel

Dishwasher safe however we recommend that you remove any silicon seal from the lid and wash that separately by hand. The lid can then go into the dishwasher without seal.Moisten the silicone seal, then press the gasket firmly with the flat of your finger into the lid's steel grove to put it back in place. We sell seal replacements in our store in case of loss.

Delivery

We will do our best to fill and deliver your order as quickly and safely as possible. Most orders within Auckland limits will be delivered within 1 to 3 working days. Most other orders within New Zealand will be delivered within 3 to 5 working days. Please select suitable delivery option for your product.

Current shipping price 
We do not charge extra for rural areas.  Our current shipping price is flat $8.00 for all over New Zealand.  International shipping starts from $35

International Customer 
Each customer shall be solely responsible for all sales taxes, or other taxes, on orders shipped to any other country.

Do You Know?

Studies of bisphenol-S, the chemical compound sometimes used to replace bisphenol-A in "BPA-free" plastic products, found it is disruptive not only to the body's hormone system but to brain circuitry in developing animal embryos.

Known to mimic estrogen, BPA and BPS are not the only synthetic chemicals found in hard plastic and certain resins that do so. (Close relatives include Bisphenol B, C, E, F, G, M. P, PH, TMC, and Z.) In laboratory tests, 95 percent of hundreds of ordinary plastic products put through "real world" conditions, such as through a microwave or dishwasher, tested positive for leaching estrogenic chemicals. Since companies are under no obligation to tell consumers what chemicals are used in the manufacture of their product, many health experts say the best thing to do is avoid contact with household plastics altogether.

With the caveat that it is nearly impossible to not be exposed to plastic in the course of a day, here are two lists. The first contains a selective list of plastic items or products that contain plastic resins that experts say you should limit your exposure to or sanitize your hands after touching. The second list contains a selective list of safe alternatives

Avoid:

- hard plastic sports bottles

- plastic food storage containers

- food wrap

- hard and flexible packaging

- deli containers

- plastic bags

- baby bottle components (nipple, ring, liner, etc)

- plastic dinnerware and plates

- non-stick cookware

- plastic cleaning products

- thermal receipt paper

- canned food and drink

Alternatives:

- stainless steel water bottles

- unbleached wax paper

- anything made from wool, cotton, hemp or plastic-free, biodegradable fibers

- plastic-free cleaning products, such as baking soda, vinegar, and essential oils

- stainless steel or cast iron cookware