Quite recently the BBC announced that a Blue Planet spin-off series is on the way…How exciting is that? I loved the 2017 series of the Blue Planet and it was popular worldwide…

Blue Planet UK is a week-long documentary series produced by BBC Studio’s Natural History Unit, the team behind Blue Planet and Blue Planet II.

Image by WikiImages from Pixabay

The programmes will offer audiences practical solutions for how to get involved around the country and tackle plastic pollution, according to the BBC.

Sounds good, right? When does it start…TONIGHT!

Blue Planet UK will air Monday 25 to Friday 29 March on BBC One.

Plastic Bottles…

There still seem to be as many on the supermarket shelves as there were this time last year when I first wrote about plastic bottles …I don’t know about you but I still have to check what plastic is what …Time for a re-run…

Let the fun began…Simples? It is not!

There are plastic bottles and plastic bottles and even more plastic bottles…All sent to confuse the **** out of the poor health-conscious shopper who juggles two jobs, 6 kids, a husband and 2 dogs… and has to clean her own house…

So I have simplified it a little for you( and me) I have grouped the numbers into good and bad and given you a little background…my advice is to do some of your own research as well if you have any concerns about how plastic may affect your health and your family’s health.

Group One. Are what I class as the baddies and I avoid like the plague.

 

1= PET ( Polyethylene Terephthalate)

This is the most commonly used plastic for consumer products which include:- Water bottles, soda bottles and some food packaging.

It is intended for single use only….One time usage…as reusing increases the risk of leaching and bacterial growth. It may leach carcinogens and should NOT be reused.

3. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

A soft, flexible plastic which is used to make clear plastic food wrapping, cooking oil bottles, teething rings, children’s and pets toys.

PVC is known in many circles as poison plastic it contains many toxins which can leach throughout the life of a product.

It should not be re-used.

6. PS (Polystyrene)

Used to make styrofoam drink cups, take out containers, egg containers, plastic cutlery and foam chips for packaging.

It may leach styrene which is a possible human carcinogen into food especially a risk when food is microwaved.

Chemicals used in the manufacture are linked to human health and reproductive system dysfunctions.

Should be avoided where possible.

7. Other (BPA) Polycarbonate.

This is a known endocrine disruptor also this group 7 is a group for anything which doesn’t fit into the other categories.

Found in food containers labelled PC, baby bottles, sippy cups some of which are now labelled non-leaching but it is still possible..

THERE IS A NEW GENERATION OF PLASTICS BEING DEVELOPED TO REPLACE POLYCARBS USING POLYMERS LIKE CORN STARCH.

#7 should not be reused and where possible avoid using for children.

 

 

Group 2 are better but I always look for alternatives where I can as in glass bottles.

2. HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)

A stiff plastic used for milk containers and detergent containers. toys and some plastic bags.

Considered the safest form of plastic…Reusable and recyclable.

4. LDPE (Low-density Polyethylene)

Used to make shrink-wrap, squeezy bottles, bread wrappers.

Considered less toxic( what is that supposed to mean) and relatively safe for use.

5.PP (Polypropylene)

This plastic is tough and light and a barrier against moisture, grease and chemicals it is used as a cereal box liner… the bag your corn flakes are in…used for bottle tops, margarine and yoghurt pots, potato chip bags and straws.

Considered safe for re-use.

These symbols are generally found around the base or on the bottom of bottles. It is also the number which is found inside the recyclable arrows which tell the real story behind your plastic.

I hope this post has been helpful …I have been left with the need to know more as everything I have read is seeming to say maybe and using words which don’t commit…I myself have made a start and will be changing what I can by only buying products which are in plastics which are considered safer and even that rings alarm bells with me as so often reports have been vilified and poo-pooed by manufacturers and then a few years later peoples fears have been justified…

It is not just our health and our families but the worlds health, animals and the enviroment even the Queen of England has banned the use of plastic bottles/straws on her estates. I know this is based on helping the enviroment but my families health is also important and I think the two go hand in hand.

Something else I do as I had concerns about leaching into our food chain indoors was to dispense with tinned tomatoes as we used quite a lot and leaching into our food was a huge concern…I year later not only have I saved money but the tomatoes I use are tastier than tinned ones and healthier…

Sally’s post on plastics added even more fuel to the fire that has been burning inside me for a while not just health wise but environmentally.

Sally’s post about ” The hormone mimic in plastic and inside food cans”  was the catalyst for me to take action…

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2018/02/06/smorgasbord-health-column-health-in-the-news-the-hormone-mimic-in-plastic-and-inside-food-cans-2/

Time for action: 

Tomatoes were easy and so much cheaper than in cans as well…they freeze well and cost wise I am saving over 100% based on my usage. No brainer and quick to do…I just put boiling water over the tomatoes and skinned them. Then I had a thought..yep…I put the skins with a little of the tomato juice in my small blender and viola blended smooth you wouldn’t know they were skins and a lovely bright red colour so I added to the tomato pulp which brightened the colour.

No waste at all…

Next on my agenda is tomato paste… That is for another day…

That’s all for this week, thank you for reading and have a lovely week xx

About Carol Taylor:

Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.

I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.

Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing.

The environment is also something I am passionate about and there will be more on this on my blog this year

Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then I bid you welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!

Carol is a contributor to the Phuket Island Writers Anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Phuket-Island-Writers-Anthology-Stories-ebook/dp/B00RU5IYNS

Connect to Carol

Blog: https://carolcooks2.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRealCarolT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.taylor.1422

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/caroltaylor56/pins/

MeWe is a new social media and one which many of us are turning to mainly migrating over to as FB has banned many of my friends and for what seems no good reason that we can see I hope you will join us there.

MeWe: mewe.com/i/caroltaylor3

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all having a great week xx