Plastic containers are practical: they come in all shapes and sizes, so they can easily be placed in the refrigerator. Cling film is also very popular, because it allows food and cooked meals to be packaged airtight, preventing their oxidation and the distribution of odors in the refrigerator.
Both the boxes and the cling film, however, are controversial. Many websites advise against storing fatty foods there. “Franceinfo” writes, for example, that they should not be used to preserve foods containing animal fats or nuts, due to the substances contained in plastic, in particular bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. They are likely to release from the material on contact with grease.
“Bisphenol A is an omnipresent substance in our daily lives,” writes the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). BPA is the basic element in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic, used in particular in a large number of common consumer goods such as bottles and food containers, but also in medical devices and toys.
According to the OFSP, BPA is controversial “because of its activity as an endocrine disruptor”, that is to say its ability to modify hormonal balance. It is able to mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen, although it is much less potent. However, according to current knowledge, BPA does not present a health risk.
If you want to play it safe, it is better to store fatty foods, such as sauces or mayonnaise, in glass or metal containers rather than plastic. According to the manufacturers, cling film is also suitable for the microwave oven, but it is best to do without it as a precaution. If the food does not come into direct contact with the cling film or plastic container and is still wrapped in other packaging, there is nothing to worry about.
Additionally, BPA and phthalates are only found in polycarbonate (PC) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. There are alternatives in which these substances are not used, for example polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), which are also used to make plastic containers and stretch film.
