In the summer, plastic dishes are gaining popularity. It is quite convenient to transport food. As a rule, such things are used on long trips and on picnics. The undoubted advantage of such dishes is low cost. It's no secret that in most cases it is disposable. Marking plastic utensils can tell a lot about its quality. After reading our article, you can easily determine what the signs mean at the bottom of a disposable plate or glass.
The history of the creation of plastic dishes
Today, disposable plastic dishes are quite familiar to us. We use it as a lunch box or take it with us for a picnic. Does everyone know exactly when she appeared? You can find out this information in our article.
For the first time they learned about plastic dishes in the United States of America in 1910. The first was a disposable glass, and then they began to produce forks, plates, spoons and other objects that we know today. The first dishes were made of thick paper. She gained popularity only in 1950. And it was at this time that the paper began to be replaced with another material, namely plastic.
Plastic dishes in the USSR. Nowadays
In the Soviet Union, such dishes began to appear only in 1960, but until 1990 it was not popular. This was due to the lack of fast food establishments. It is worth paying attention to the fact that now it is paper disposable tableware that is gaining popularity again. This is no coincidence, because quite often plastic products for storing food do not meet quality standards. Paper, in turn, is a safe and environmentally friendly material.
To purchase health-friendly utensils, you need to know what labeling on plastic utensils means. You can find out this and much more in our article.
Plastic dishes have a lot of positive qualities. The very first thing consumers pay attention to is the low cost of such a product. It is convenient to transport and no need to wash. It is known that plastic dishes are strong enough, but only if there is no excessive load on it. As a rule, due to its positive qualities, it is used at picnics, parties or just take food for work or a long trip. Labeling of plastic utensils for food can tell a lot about its quality and recommendations for use. In order for disposable food containers to bring only benefit, you need to know how to use it correctly.
Today, many cafes and fast food restaurants use plastic disposable tableware, because it is cheap, convenient and aesthetically pleasing. It should be noted that reusable containers are also created from this material. Many housewives use them to store bulk solids. Is plastic harmful? You can find out this information in our article.
Harm and negative qualities of plastic and disposable tableware
Few people know, but if used improperly, any disposable packaging can cause permanent damage to health. In order to prevent this from happening, you need to know what the labeling of plastic utensils means. Decryption of markers is provided in our article.
Reusable and disposable tableware is harmful if it is used incorrectly. However, some doctors believe that it carries a certain danger in any circumstances. First of all, experts do not recommend reusing that container that is intended for single use. In the second application, it releases a large number of substances hazardous to health.
It is no secret that plastic is a material that is obtained chemically. It is for this reason that when exposed to various products, it can behave completely differently. For example, you cannot drink warm tea from any disposable glass. Marking plastic utensils is a great way to find out how you can use this or that container.
Plastic is known to decompose poorly. Such a process takes more than ten years. For this reason, this material negatively affects our ecology. To cope with such a problem, factories are opened in many cities that process material hazardous to nature. Unfortunately, there are few such enterprises. For this reason, many fast-food establishments prefer to use only paper utensils. It is more environmentally friendly and harmless.
Marking on plastic. Polystyrene cookware
In order not to harm your health, you need to know what labeling on plastic dishes means. The decoding that is described in our article is easy to remember. Such information will definitely come in handy for you at a picnic or party, and will also help maintain your health.
If the PS sign is located on plastic dishes, you can be sure that polystyrene is included in the composition of such containers. If used improperly, it is extremely dangerous for health. Plastic dishes with this mark can only be used to store chilled products. The thing is that when it comes into contact with hot food, the container with polystyrene releases styrene, which accumulates in vital organs. Over time, this can lead to the development of serious diseases. In such dishes, it is also highly not recommended to store alcoholic beverages and reheat food in the microwave.
Polypropylene plastic dishes
Is there a plastic dish for a microwave? The marking and its decoding, which is described in our article, will allow you to find out.
It is believed that disposable tableware should never be used in the microwave. However, it is not. On some plastic containers you can find a sign with the number 5 and PP symbols. This marking indicates that the composition of the dishes includes polypropylene. It is in such a container that you can heat food in the microwave and pour hot tea into it. Few people know, but dishes made of polypropylene do not deform upon contact with contents whose temperature is not more than 100 degrees Celsius.
The only thing that in no case can be stored in such a container is alcohol. If alcohol was poured into the dishes made of polypropylene, the plastic begins to release phenol, from the impact of which a person can completely lose his vision. The capacity of polypropylene has a lot of positive qualities. It is known that it is strong enough and retains heat well. Today, plastic utensils are extremely popular. Labeling for the consumer is the main source of information that allows you to find out what this or that capacity is for.
What does the triangle of three arrows on plastic containers mean?
It is known what the marking looks like on plastic dishes. In addition to numbers and letters, there is a triangle sign on it, which consists of three arrows. Not everyone understands what it means. Such a closed loop of arrows indicates that the used dishes are subject to further processing. As a rule, a number is located inside the triangle, and below it are a few letters. They can talk about the material from which the dishes you have chosen are made.
Sign with cutlery
Labeling of plastic utensils is the first thing a consumer should pay attention to when buying. As we said earlier, with improper use of containers, they can cause irreversible harm to health. Often on plastic dishes you can find a sign with the image of cutlery. Such a marker indicates that food products can be stored in this container. If such a sign is crossed out, then you can be sure that the product is not intended for use in the kitchen.
Useful Tips
To protect yourself and your loved ones, you need to know and remember what labeling of plastic dishes means. The decoding, which is described in our article, will allow you to find out what is included in a particular tank.
If you went on a picnic with plastic utensils, then in no case do not burn it after it is over. When burning, disposable containers emit hazardous substances. Experts strongly recommend not eating in those establishments that use plastic dishes. If you have no other choice, then be sure to pay attention to its quality. Marking plastic utensils will allow you to find out whether it is used correctly in a particular institution. A similar situation is with coffee machines. Often with a great desire to save money, they use cheaper glasses that are not intended for storing hot drinks.
As we said earlier, in no case do not use disposable dishes repeatedly. This rule is not accidental, because in this case, the top layer is destroyed on the surface of the plastic container, and it begins to release life-threatening chemicals.
What do doctors advise?
Gastroenterologists highly do not recommend the use of plastic dishes. They emphasize that under any circumstances, some of the polymers still enter the human body. It is known that over time they accumulate and become causative agents of serious diseases. Experts strongly recommend that you do not use disposable containers or at least pay attention to recommendations for its use. Marking plastic utensils will allow you to find out what a particular container is suitable for. Doctors recommend today to abandon the use of such kitchen items and use only that disposable container, which is made of thick paper.
To summarize
In the warm season, plastic dishes are especially popular. Marking of such containers is described in our article. We strongly recommend that you remember its transcript in order to maintain your health. Plastic dishes have a lot of positive qualities. It is cheap and compact. However, it has several disadvantages. When used correctly, it will bring you only joy and will not ruin your picnic. Be healthy!