It is a common practice of takeaway food stores in Macao to use disposable plastic containers for holding food. As mobile food ordering service gains in popularity, more and more food establishments offer food delivery service. It has gradually aroused public concern over how effective these containers are in protecting food from contamination and whether they release harmful substances at high temperatures to contaminate food and endanger the consumers’ health. This article looks into the characteristics of disposable plastic containers generally used in Macao, and the key points of food safety that the food industry has to pay attention to use them.

Disposable plastic containers are made of plastic materials. They are single-use containers for holding food products. The properties and identification codes of common plastic materials in Macao are as follows:

• Smart purchase:

Find out the characteristics of the food products to be held (e.g. food temperature, whether the food is oily or acidic, and duration of contact with container) before choosing the appropriate type of container. Purchase the containers from reputable suppliers and check their surfaces for signs of damages and contamination upon their delivery.

• Correct storage:

Do not put the containers directly on the floor. Store them separately from foodstuffs. Avoid putting them in places with direct exposure to sunlight or close to heat sources. Adopt the ‘First-In-First-Out’ principle to use the containers in stock.

• Cautious use:

Check the condition of the plastic containers before use and choose the appropriate type of containers for food according to their properties. Containers made of polypropylene (PP, also known as polypropene) which has good resistance to heat can be utilized for high-temperature food. Avoid using containers made of polystyrene (PS, commonly known as hard plastic) or expanded polystyrene (EPS, commonly known as foam plastic) since they have poor heat resistance;

For deep-fried food prepared at high temperatures, heat-resistant foil (such as aluminium foil, commonly known as tin foil) or oil-absorbing cooking paper should be applied to separate the food from the container. Avoid placing the hot food into the container too early. If the container shows physical deformity upon contact with the hot food, stop using and discard it right away. Never reuse disposable plastic containers. Do not use any container if there is any doubt about its safety.

In accordance with “Food Safety Law”, food producers and operators are required to comply with the food safety standards in their food production and operation. The Department of Food Safety of the Municipal Affairs Bureau ( IAM ) has compiled a series of guidelines and guides related to handling takeaway food for the food sector, namely “Guidelines on the Use of Disposable Plastic Food Containers”, “Guidelines on Use of Disposable Tableware”, “Guidelines on Hygiene Practices for Food Handling in Food Premises and Takeaways”, “Guidelines on Hygiene Practices for Food shows and Expositions” and “Guide on Hygiene Practices: Display and Sale of Food in the Street”, etc., encouraging them to raise the food safety level continuously.

005/DIR/DSA/2018