DANGERS OF USING RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES IN PACKAGING LOCAL FOOD BEVERAGES.
Packaging have become essential in containing food and transportation easily in bulk across continents. Plastic evolved among other recent methods of using packaging materials with less environmental impact/hazard. One of the many arguments of using plastics as suitable packaging material with less environmental hazard/impact was because it is recyclable.
However, due to it recyclable nature, many local food retailers in Nigeria most especially in the less developed areas such as the southern parts of Taraba state which consists of Takum, Wukari, Ussa, Ibi, Donga and Yangtu special development area have have adopted this plastics bottles as a means of packaging for their local beverages such as Kunu-zaki, Kunu-Aya (Tiger nut milk), Zobo, Soy-milk and even water.
The source where this plastics are obtained is questionable and even alarming. Sourcing for this plastic bottles is now a business venture to some individual in the community who out of making more profits gather and source for this plastics from places such as, Hospitals, Damp places, Streets, Drainage and in more disgusting places.
Apart from the phobia of getting contaminated and infected with Microorganisms capable of causing food poisoning and breakdown of the human system, the danger of contacting diseases such as Tuberculosis and other life threatening diseases cannot be overlooked. This also happens to be one of the reasons people tend to ponder where the contract certain illness with no related health record in the family.
Because of the dangers associated with this recycled plastic bottles, Local food beverage manufacturers should endeavor to source for their packaging bottles from clean sources. The bottles should be properly wash with detergent, rinse in a portable water containing 2% chlorine, immersing in hot water before filling.
Consumers too have a role in safeguarding their health by demanding for drinking straw before drinking local beverages from the plastic bottles. Always avoid direct contact of the mouth and the plastic bottles.
Recycled plastic bottles use for packaging local food beverage poised a lot of dangers to the public especially in destroying their health system. Appropriate safety and care should be taken before drinking local beverages packaged in this bottles.
Danladi Gabriel
Department of Food science and Technology
Federal University wukari.
CEO, Ihenzy Group International