Original title: Plastic lunch boxes also have a shelf life? It is better to choose ceramic or glass for microwave heating

According to the Voice of China "Global Chinese Radio Network", more and more people are used to bringing meals in plastic lunch boxes and heating them in the microwave at work or work. But do you know that this kind of plastic products used in microwave ovens also have a "shelf life"?

The packaging of the plastic fresh-keeping boxes we often use is generally marked with the production date, but it is rare to see a shelf life. Mr. Xiang, an engineer from the Jiangsu Provincial Quality Inspection Institute, said that not writing does not mean that there is no shelf life. We often feel that plastic lunch boxes are difficult to wash after eating, or they become stained after using them for a period of time, which reminds you: no need to wash, it's time to change.

Many people have never heard of the saying that plastic products have a shelf life. It is not only the Chinese people who have not heard of it. In foreign countries, this saying is also rarely heard. Yuan Lu, who lives in the United States, said that the plastic products used in microwave ovens in the United States must be affixed with a certified label. When people see this label, they can use it with confidence, and there is no shelf life.

Yuan Lu: Plastic products in the United States are generally certified by the FDA, which is the Food and Drug Administration. It will put their registered logo on most of the products. For example, "microwave safe" means plastic products that can be used in microwave ovens, and "BPA" is the logo of bisphenol A, a toxic substance that is often contained in non-toxic plastic products. Consumers are more confident in purchasing plastic products because they are more confident in the certification of the FDA, because its certification system is actually very rigorous. For example, it puts a microwave safe logo, which means that it has conducted a very precise test on the specific product based on the specific proportion and frequency of the product's possible contact with food and the degree of possible heating, and then based on the calculation of a value that may be harmful to the human body, it will issue the "microwave safe" logo. Moreover, the tests they do are based on the premise that the plastic product is used for life, that is, there is no such thing as a plastic product that is safe within 3 years of use and unsafe after 3 years.

Yuan Lu also said that if the shelf life is really important, American manufacturers will definitely mark it on the product.

Yuan Lu: American law requires businesses to fulfill more disclosure obligations, even if it is obvious or straightforward, such as hot water burns your mouth or the floor is slippery, which everyone may know. If it is a plastic product with a shelf life, I think the business must fulfill this disclosure obligation. It is rare to see plastic products with a shelf life in the United States.

Since experts have proposed that plastic products have a shelf life, how long is the life of a plastic lunch box? Mr. Xiang believes that this depends on personal use and cleaning methods. The shelf life of most plastic products is generally about three to five years. If used frequently, it is best to replace it every one to two years. Hearing this, Tang Xinzi, a Chinese living in Japan, was surprised. She said that in Japan, many housewives use this kind of plastic products as disposable products, so there is no need for a shelf life.

Tang Xinzi: I have never seen a shelf life for plastic products. Japan does not have such regulations. If there is a shelf life, they will clearly write it on the product, telling it when it can be used. However, I have never seen such a mark on the plastic products that can be used in the microwave, and I have never heard of any comments from Japanese experts in this regard. In my opinion, a plastic box that can be used for a year is already a long time. In Japan's 100-yen stores, which are equivalent to our Chinese 9-yuan stores and 10-yuan stores, there are plastic lunch boxes that can be used in the microwave, but many Japanese housewives will throw them away after using them once or twice, and will not use them repeatedly. They think that they are disposable items and there is no shelf life.

In Australia, plastic products have both institutional certification similar to that of the United States and the same usage habits as in Japan.

Liu Jue, a special observer for the Global Chinese Radio Network in Australia: Every time an ordinary citizen living in Australia buys a plastic container in a supermarket, they will check whether there is such a mark at the bottom of the plastic container, which means it can be safely used in the microwave. In Australia, all plastic container products must comply with Australia's food and drug safety standards, and only containers that have passed the food and drug safety standards can enter the market. When it comes to the topic of the life of plastic container products, it is true that people in Australia do not have this concept, but there is a basic common sense in Australia. If you go to the supermarket to buy things, many of them are food that can be taken away. These ready-to-eat foods are generally placed in a plastic container. It is written on the top that you must put this ready-to-eat food in the microwave to heat it up when you go home, and then you can eat it. However, generally such plastic containers are only used once and thrown away after one use.

Australians pay attention to health and try to use as little plastic products as possible. Liu Jue said that Australians often use ceramic tableware to bake things.

Liu Jue: In Australia, basically every household still uses ovens more when cooking, so many containers are ceramic containers. In the process of using microwave ovens to heat food, you will find that many Australian people actually use ceramic containers instead of plastic.

Although plastic is a necessity in our lives, we should learn from the Australians when it comes to imported goods and try to use ceramic or glass materials, especially in high temperature conditions, plastic products should be used with caution. Chinese people have the virtue of diligence and thrift, but when it comes to health and thrift, health should be given priority.

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