Can plastic containers release substances?
And can these be present in food?

Can the plastic containers used for supplements release synthetic substances that will then settle on the capsules or tablets, or in the liquid you are going to take?

That is the question we at Salugea asked ourselves.

To answer this question, we carried out a scientific experiment, in an accredited laboratory, supervised by Dr Stefano Censani, Biologist, Naturopath and Technical Director of Salugea.

We compared several Aloe Vera Juices commonly available on the market and packaged in plastic bottles with our Organic Aloe Vera Juice, packaged in pharmaceutical-grade dark glass.

The aim was to assess the presence of “phthalates”, chemical substances that can be released into the product from the plastic of the bottles.

These substances are considered “endocrine disruptors”, meaning they can interfere with the normal function of various hormones, especially sex hormones.

1st test: Aloe Vera in dark glass

We analysed our Organic Aloe Vera Juice, packaged in dark glass. In this product, no trace of phthalates was found. The result was fairly predictable, as glass is a highly inert material that tends not to release foreign substances.

2nd test: Aloe Vera in plastic.

Here, by contrast, the analysis detected traces of a substance belonging to the phthalate group.

But our test didn’t end there!

In fact, the data that emerged referred to products kept at room temperature, around 25°C.

We wanted to test what it means for natural products packaged in plastic to be exposed to high temperatures for short periods.

So we had the same accredited laboratory test the 2 Aloe samples, but this time kept at 40°C for 3 weeks.

And the results were even more striking!

Even under these conditions, Salugea Organic Aloe Vera Juice confirmed that it had not even the slightest trace of substances released from the glass into the product.

The Aloe Vera Juice in a plastic bottle showed a level of synthetic substance dissolved in the product more than five and a half times higher than the level previously found at room temperature and, this time, above the permitted legal limits.

This shows that, indeed, plastic containers can tend to release synthetic chemicals into the products they contain, and that this release increases dramatically if the bottle is subjected to heat stress for prolonged periods.

At Salugea, you can be sure you will always find supplements packaged in pharmaceutical-grade dark glass, the only material that can guarantee the quality and safety of the product over time.

A choice of quality that we reaffirm every day, for truly deeper wellbeing and a better-protected environment.

Bibliography

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Salugea’s best-loved natural supplements

Can plastic containers release substances?And can these be present in food?

Salugea’s best-loved natural supplements

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Can plastic containers release substances?
And can these be present in food?