Meaning of abbreviations on plastic food containers

There are often some letter symbols on plastic food containers. What is the meaning of the common symbols on plastic food containers? Please read the article below.

Explaining the meaning of common symbols on plastic food containers

The explanation of the meaning of common symbols on plastic food containers is mentioned in the National Technical Regulation QCVN 12-1:2011/BYT on hygiene and safety for synthetic plastic packaging and utensils in direct contact with food issued by the Minister of Health .

- According to QCVN 12-1:2011/BYT, plastic packaging and tools must meet the following general requirements:

Material testing		Try to get rid of the infection.
Test criteria	Maximum limit	Test criteria	Soaking condition only	Soaking solution only	Maximum limit
Lead	100 µg/g	Heavy metals	60 o C for 30 minutes (Applicable to tools used at temperatures greater than 100 0 C and soaking conditions are 95 0 C for 30 minutes)	Acetic acid 4%	1 µg/ml
		Amount of KMnO4 used (Except for packaging, tools whose main ingredients are Phenol resin, Melamine resin and Urea resin)		Water	10 µg/ml

Accordingly, some common symbols on plastic food containers are as follows:

PET plastic: Packaging and tools made from Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic

In addition to the general technical requirements, packaging and tools made from Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic must meet the following requirements:

Try to get rid of the infection.
Test criteria	Soaking condition only	Soaking solution only	Maximum limit
Antimony	60 o C for 30 minutes[7]	Acetic acid 4%	0.05 µg/ml
German			0.1 µg/ml
Dry residue	25 o C for 1 hour	Heptane[3]	30 µg/ml
	60 o C for 30 minutes	Ethanol 20% [4]
	60 o C for 30 minutes[7]	Water[5]
		Acetic acid 4%[6]

PVC plastic : Packaging and tools made from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastic

In addition to general technical requirements, packaging and tools made from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastic must meet the following requirements:

Material testing		Try to get rid of the infection.
Test criteria	Maximum limit	Test criteria	Soaking condition only	Soaking solution only	Maximum limit
Vinyl chloride	1µg/g	Dry residue	25 o C for 1 hour	Heptane[3]	150 µg/ml
			60 0 C for 30 minutes	Ethanol 20% [4]	30 µg/ml
Cresyl phosphate	1µg/g
Dibutyltin compounds	50µ/g
			60 0 C for 30 minutes	Water[5]
				Acetic acid 4%

PE and PP plastic: Packaging and tools from Polyethylene and Polypropylene plastic (PE and PP)

In addition to the general technical requirements, packaging and tools made from Polyethylene and Polypropylene (PE and PP) plastic must meet the following requirements:

Try to get rid of the infection.
Test criteria	Soaking condition only	Soaking solution only	Maximum limit
Dry residue	25 o C for 1 hour	Heptane[3]	30 µg/ml [a]
	60 0 C for 30 minutes	Ethanol 20% [4]	30 µg/ml
	60 0 C for 30 minutes[7]	Water[5]
		Acetic acid 4%[6]

PS Plastic: Packaging and tools made from Polystyrene (PS) plastic

In addition to the general technical requirements, Polystyrene (PS) plastic tools must meet the following requirements:

Material testing		Try to get rid of the infection.
Test criteria	Maximum limit	Test criteria	Soaking condition only	Soaking solution only	Maximum limit
▪Total volatiles (styrene, toluene, ethylbenzene, n-propylbenzene)	5mg/g	Dry residue	25 o C for 1 hour	Heptane[3]	240 µg/ml
Polystyrene expands (when using boiling water)	2mg/g		60 0 C for 30 minutes	Ethanol 20% [4]	30 µg/ml
			60 0 C for 30 minutes[7]	Water[5]
Styrene and Ethybenzene	1mg/g			Acetic acid 4%[6]

PA Plastic: Packaging and tools made from Nylon plastic (PA)

In addition to general technical requirements, nylon plastic packaging and tools must meet the following requirements:

Try to get rid of the infection.
Test criteria	Soaking condition only	Soaking solution only	Maximum limit
Caprolactam	60 0 C for 30 minutes	Ethanol 20%	15 µg/ml
Dry residue	25 o C for 1 hour	Heptane [3]	30 µg/ml
	60 0 C for 30 minutes	Ethanol 20% [4]
	60 0 C for 30 minutes [7]	Water [5]
		Acetic acid 4% [6]

PMP Plastic: Packaging and tools made from Polymethyl Penten (PMP) plastic

In addition to general technical requirements, packaging and tools made from Polymethyl Penten (PMP) plastic must meet the following requirements:

Try to get rid of the infection.
Test criteria	Soaking condition only	Soaking solution only	Maximum limit
Dry residue	25 o C for 1 hour	Heptane [3]	120 µg/ml
	60 0 C for 30 minutes	Ethanol 20% [4]	30 µg/ml
	60 0 C for 30 minutes [7]	Water [5]
		Acetic acid 4% [6]

Note

[1] Except for packaging, the main components of the tool are Phenol resin, Melamine resin and Urea resin.

[2] Applicable to cooking utensils and tableware.

[3] Applicable to packaging, containers for fats, cooking oils and foods containing fats.

[4] Applicable to packaging and containers of alcoholic beverages.

[5] Applicable to packaging and food containers with a pH greater than 5.

[6] Applicable to packaging and food containers with a pH less than or equal to 5.

[7] Applicable to tools used at temperatures greater than 1000C and the soaking condition is 950C for 30 minutes.

[8] Not included in packaging or plastic utensils intended for use by children.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/y-nghia-tu-viet-tat-tren-do-nhua-dung-thuc-pham-244859.html