Question from Jane
Are K-Cups (Keurig or generic) made of toxic plastic with bpa or other toxins that will contaminate the coffee with toxins? ALSO, the plastic bags at the grocery store to bag the groceries. I am cutting them in strips and attaching them so that I can use it like yarn (called plarn) crocheting an article like a shopping bag. Only thing is, I am touching the plastic constantly when making the bag. Will my hands ingest the toxin if the plastic bag is toxic with bpa or other toxins?
Lisa’s Answer
Keurig K-Cups have switched to #5 recyclable polypropylene. This is an improvement over the #7 plastic they used to use. Though they claim to be BPA free, studies have shown that BPA-free plastic can have similar hormone-disrupting effects. Heating the plastic increases the leaching.
Grocery store plastic bags are made of HDPE or high-density polyethylene. It is one of the safer plastics but I can’t tell you for sure what additives are in it or are used in the printing on it. It could have plasticizers that can be absorbed by the skin. If the bags are labelled as food safe they are less likely to have harmful additives as they have more stringent regulations.
