BPA: Helping You Make the Right Choice for your Restaurant

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used as a building block in certain plastics and resins since the 1960’s. Furthermore, BPA is found in many food storage containers made of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Some research has shown that BPA can seep into food or beverages from containers made with BPA or into your body when you handle BPA products causing health effects on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children. Though this topic remains controversial and many plastics companies say there isn’t risk associated with BPA, consumers are starting to pay close attention to the plastics they handle.

The Food and Drug Administration now shares this level of concern and is taking steps to reduce human exposure to BPA in the food supply industry by finding alternatives to BPA in food containers.

Here is what the FDA is telling consumers to do:

• Plastic containers have recycle codes on the bottom. Some, but not all, plastics that are marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 may be made with BPA.
• Do not put very hot or boiling liquid that you intend to consume in plastic containers made with BPA. BPA levels rise in food when containers/products made with the chemical are heated and come in contact with the food.
• Discard all bottles with scratches, as these may harbor bacteria and, if BPA-containing, lead to greater release of BPA.

Because the BPA issue has raised concern amongst consumers it is very important for restaurants to show their awareness. The best way to do this is obvious, start using BPA free plastics. There are several manufacturers who offer this option.

Cambro Manufacturing Company offers an abundance of BPA Free products. BPA is not found in Cambro’s polypropylene or polyethylene storage containers, ABS products, or in most Cambro tumblers which are made from the SAN resin.

Rubbermaid Commercial Products is also committed to helping you make the right choice in your establishment. RCP created the revolutionary product line in collaboration with Eastman Chemical Company using its Tritan™ copolyester, a material free of BPA that offers the highest quality, durability and clarity in the industry. The collection includes ingredient management, food pans, food boxes, and square food storage containers.

Check out the cool video RCP made to show off how their BPA free products hold up in a commercial kitchen.

If you do decide to go BPA free, make sure you market it like crazy. As with anything “green”, customers look for your impacting initiatives and appreciate your awareness. To special order BPA free products just contact Tundra Restaurant Supply. They can get you anything you need!