What Plastics Are Safe for Food Storage?

Some plastics are completely safe for storing everything from milk jugs to hot soup – but others can add toxic chemicals or harmful substances to your products.

If you’re in the food and drinks industry, knowing which plastics are food-safe will make sure you keep everyone safe and meet all the UK regulations.

Food Grade Plastics and Food Safety

Food-grade plastics are specifically designed to come into contact with food without contaminating it. Unlike ordinary plastics, food-safe versions won’t put any harmful chemicals, odours or flavours into your products. This is down to their chemical composition – food-grade material must meet the strict standards set by the UK’s FSA.

So, what are the Common Food Grade Plastics?

HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) is number 2 grade and is one of the most reliable food grade plastics you can get. You’ll find it in food storage containers, plastic bottles and food grade tubs throughout the food industry.

It resists chemicals, doesn’t absorb odours, and handles both chilled and ambient storage brilliantly. Used a lot in milk jugs, juice containers, and grocery bags, it’s a genuinely durable material with a high melting point.

LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) is number 4 and is the key plastic in flexible food packaging. It gives you the flexibility you need for bread bags, plastic bags and squeezable bottles, all while bringing you excellent food contact safety. Moisture-resistant and perfect for safe food storage, LDPE works brilliantly when you need packaging that fits to your product shapes.

PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is number 1 and you’ll see it in food-grade plastic bottles for water and soft drinks. It gives you crystal clarity and strong barriers that extend the shelf life of your products – making it a real staple across food processing.

PP (Polypropylene) is number 5 and stands out for its heat resistance. When you need microwave-safe or dishwasher-safe food containers, or packaging for hot filling with hot food, PP delivers. You’ll usually find it in yoghurt pots, takeaway containers (including coffee cups) and plastic storage for high temperatures.

Is Number 7 Plastic Safe for Food Storage?

Number 7 is tricky because it’s a catch-all category. Some number 7 plastics are safe for food, but others contain harmful additives like BPA. A lot of businesses now avoid number 7 for food grade packaging, sticking instead with long-standing proven food-safe plastics like HDPE food-safe options, LDPE, PET or PP.

Is HDPE Food-Safe in the UK?

Absolutely. HDPE food-safe plastic meets all your FSA standards and is FDA-compliant for international markets, too. Its chemical structure creates an incredibly stable plastic material that won’t break down or get into your food storage, even with acidic or fatty products. That’s why HDPE food containers are so popular in UK food processing.

Making Smart Choices for Food Storage

Choosing the right plastic food containers is about matching the right material to your task. For most uses in the food industry, proven food-safe containers made from HDPE, LDPE, PET or PP give you the best combination of safety, performance and cost-effectiveness.

At d.a.pak, we specialise in food-safe containers and packaging that meet UK and EU standards. Whether you need plastic tubs, plastic containers, baby bottles, ceramic containers or bulk packaging for ingredients, we’ll help you store your food safely and stay 100% compliant.

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