Plastics used in food packaging must be of greater purity than plastics used for non-food packaging. This is commonly referred to as food grade plastic.

Food grade plastic must be produced using safe materials in a safe environment. For plastic to be used in contact with food or food products, it must:

• Be protective: to act as a defense against moisture or contamination without breaking down.
• Be durable: to protect food items during manufacturing, packaging, storage, transportation.
• Be chemically safe: to not contaminate food it comes in contact with. This means the plastic must have no tendency for “leeching”, or the potential for chemicals to seep into the food, where they could either affect the taste or cause adverse health effects for the consumer.
• Used as Bread Bags, Cookie Bags, Etc.