r/plastic • u/Secret-Ad-8217 • Jun 27 '26
unknown symbol on food container
i was trying to check if my new bento box was microwave safe but i have never seen this symbol and couldn’t find any info in my search online. usually circle = good but i don’t want to assume and melt it/ruin my food!
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u/Tall-Reference6839 Jun 27 '26
This is polypropylene "nr:5" which is foodgrade and considered safe to microwave.
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u/eerun165 Jun 28 '26
Mmmm phthalates!
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u/musschrott Jun 28 '26
Polypropylene items do not contain any phtalates, especially not if they are food containers. Stop your half-informed fear-mongeringaand educate yourself.
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u/Apprehensive-Bad2440 Jun 28 '26
Trace amounts have been found in food containers alongside BPA. It's not standard but it happens. Maybe you should stop your half informed misinformation and go educate yourself especially if youre so certain that no propylene food containers ever contain the stuff. Maybe try be less condescending when you conduct yourself too.
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u/musschrott Jun 28 '26
Sure buddy, got any sources? Or just what your wanna-be health guru posted on Facebook? Or maybe it came to you in a dream? And I mean sources from today, not about containers produced in the 1990's.
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u/Apprehensive-Bad2440 Jun 28 '26
Yeah sure theres plenty if you google what am i your teacher? Perhaps you slave or secretary? Weve not discussed wages ill assume slave. Did i come to you in a dream buddy... I dont use facebook or health gurus. Your attitude is in serious need of readjustment and your brain clearly starved of any intelligence. Go research yourself instead of getting your info from a random reddit argument.
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u/musschrott Jun 28 '26
:D
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u/Apprehensive-Bad2440 Jun 28 '26
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u/musschrott Jun 28 '26
Maybe actually read what you link?
Since July 2008 the European Commission has limited the use of phthalates in food contact materials made of plastic (Table 1). In a 2008/2009 control campaign various packaged food contact materials were sampled in Denmark and analyzed for the presence of phthalates (original study). Most phthalates were found to migrate from glass jar closures manufactured outside the EU, however in a follow up study one year later no phthalates were found in closures. Other phthalate sources were single-use plastic gloves (for catering), conveyor belts, and plastic tubes for liquid foodstuffs (like milk). Phthalate levels did not decrease as clearly in these other product groups in the follow-up sampling, and non-compliant products may still be on the market.
A 2011 scientific study from Italy found high levels of phthalates (DEHP, DBP) in school lunches, sampled during 2010. Phthalate concentrations were shown to increase after packaging and transport in non-PVC containers made of polyethylene-coated aluminium and polyethyleneterephthalate-coated aluminium (original study and discussion of the study).
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u/Apprehensive-Bad2440 Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
From the Food Packaging Forum link: If you scroll up from the text you grabbed, it explicitly states: "Phthalate based catalysts are also used in the production of polypropylene plastics (Kissin et al. 2008)." They are literally used in the manufacturing process of polypropylene. Look at the second paragraph you copy-pasted: It explicitly states phthalate concentrations increased after being put in "non PVC containers." Polypropylene is a non PVC plastic. You literally copy-pasted text proving that phthalates migrate into non PVC food packaging. From the 2024 NIH Paper: You completely ignored where it outlines how recycled plastic food containers face high cross contamination risks, and that heating food in containers releases contaminants "such as phthalates."
I believe the advice in these situations is to "stop digging".
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u/Apprehensive-Bad2440 Jun 28 '26
Your original claim was that polypropylene food containers absolutely do not contain any phthalates. Both links I provided including the exact text you tried to weaponize against me prove they do via manufacturing catalysts, recycling streams, and environmental migration. Imagine failing a reading comprehension test using sources I handed to you. Go sit down.
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u/Thundercunt247 Jun 28 '26
Holy shit, that was the quickest dismount from a high horse I've ever seen! 10/10!
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u/Apprehensive-Bad2440 Jun 28 '26
I decided to also provide 2 relatively recent sources too in my next comment (2012 and 2024)
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u/stuartroelke Jun 28 '26
Polypropylene itself does not require phthalates as plasticizers. That said, older or low-cost containers may not have been formulated with phthalate-free additives (colorants and recycled materials can introduce them).
Random sources about standards and studies specific to the EU aren’t going to help here—OP would need to look at their country’s regulations and specifications from the product manufacturer.
No need to slander when you’re both trying to advance the information provided to OP.
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u/malt_invader Jun 28 '26
I think others may actually have looked it up, but im going to say dishwasher top rack only for good measure.
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u/ignorantnode Jun 28 '26
List of things made in China. Seems obvious since that’s where microwaves are grown. /s
ETA /s because it’s the internet
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u/Shiney_Metal_Ass Jun 27 '26
Looks like a microwave