Question from TL
I hope u can help provide more educational information related to hydroponics materials used to make the plastic frames, net pots etc. Most sellers claim they are HDPE food grade so totally safe to use at home. But as consumers, how do we know if they are truly HDPE Food Grade materials? My concern is there any such recognized industry standards that the sellers have to produce to substantiate their claims as totally HDPE food grade, safe for human consumption?
Lisa’s Answer
Food Grade materials are regulated in the U.S. by the FDA. They cannot contain certain dyes or additives or recycled content that are know to be harmful. However, read this post about plastics and how even food-grade plastics have been shown to leach hormone-disrupting chemicals. Food-grade plastic may be safer than regular plastic but that does not mean that it is safe. I’m not sure if manufactures are require to provide to consumers certification of food-grade status, but you could ask.
