What are the types of plastic food packaging? Which one is safer?

Food plastic packaging is mainly divided into the following types:
1、 Polyethylene (PE):
Characteristics: It has good heat resistance, cold resistance, and corrosion resistance, and is commonly used for packaging vegetables, fruits, beverages, and other foods.
Safety: PE is a widely used food packaging material with high safety and meets food grade plastic standards.
2、 Polypropylene (PP):
Characteristics: It is a thermoplastic resin with excellent heat resistance and moisture resistance, commonly used in microwave food packaging, instant noodle cups, soy sauce bottles, etc.
Safety: PP is also a food grade plastic widely used in the field of food packaging, with reliable safety.
3、 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC):
Characteristics: It has good transparency and flexibility, and was widely used in food packaging. However, due to its potential release of harmful substances, it has gradually been replaced by other materials.
Safety: PVC has low safety, especially when exposed to high temperatures or oils, and may release harmful substances. Therefore, it is not recommended for use in food packaging.
4、 Polyester (PET):
Characteristics: It has good transparency, strength, and high temperature resistance, and is commonly used for packaging beverages, mineral water, canned goods, etc.
Safety: PET is a food grade plastic widely used in the field of food packaging, with high safety.
5、 Polystyrene (PS):
Characteristics: It has good transparency, strength, and temperature resistance, and is commonly used for packaging pastries, candies, coffee, and other foods.
Safety: As a food packaging material, PS has high safety, but attention should be paid to avoiding high temperature environments.
In terms of safety, PE, PP, PET, and PS are all food grade plastics that comply with relevant national standards and have high safety. However, PVC is not recommended for food packaging due to its potential release of harmful substances and low safety.
In addition, different food plastic packaging materials have different characteristics and applicable ranges. For example, PE and PP are suitable for packaging various foods, including meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, beverages, etc; PET is mainly used for packaging beverages, mineral water, etc; PS is more suitable for packaging food such as pastries and candies.
When choosing plastic packaging for food, in addition to considering its safety, a comprehensive selection should also be made based on factors such as the characteristics of the food, storage conditions, and transportation methods.