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Foam food container

January 01, 1970

A foam food container is a form of disposable food packaging for various foods and beverages, such as processed instant noodles, raw meat from supermarkets, ice cream from ice cream parlors, cooked food from delicatessens or food stalls, or beverages like "coffee to go". They are also commonly used to serve takeout food from restaurants, and are also available by request for diners who wish to take home the remainder of their meal. The foam is a good thermal insulator, making the container easy to carry as well as keeping the food at the temperature it had when filled into the container, whether hot or cold.

Siu mei with rice in a foam takeout container

Construction and composition edit

Foam take-out containers are made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, or another type of polystyrene foam, and produced by injecting the foam into a mold. They are usually white in color, although they may be printed or impressed with a company logo or other message.

EPS foam is sometimes incorrectly called Styrofoam as a generic term. Styrofoam is a trademark of The Dow Chemical Company for closed-cell extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam, used for thermal insulation and craft applications. By contrast, EPS foam is typically white and made of expanded polystyrene beads, and used for disposable coffee cups, coolers, or as cushioning material in packaging.[1]

Another trade name for EPS is thermacol, originated by BASF.

Varieties edit

 
Khanom krok, Thai doughnuts with egg and coconut fillings in a foam container

The different varieties of foam takeout containers may include:

  • A rectangular shaped clamshell style container with an attached lid, which comes in various sizes. The larger ones usually feature several compartments, allowing different foods to be kept separated from each other. This variety usually features several small projections on the lid of the container, which fit through slots on the bottom half to "lock" it, therefore keeping the cover closed. These containers are leak-resistant only if kept upright, and often have a square imprint area for labeling.
  • A cylindrical style container with a separate, translucent or opaque plastic lid which can seal tightly to resist leaks. The container may or may not taper somewhat towards the bottom. Both overall size and the ratio of height to diameter can vary greatly. Such containers usually hold soups and stews; however, smaller varieties are often used to hold sauces and condiments.

Chinese cuisine edit

Foam containers are the most commonly used takeout box for Chinese cuisines in East and Southeast Asia. It is standard for Cantonese cuisine in Hong Kong and many parts of China and sometimes used overseas in various restaurants, particularly in the United States and Canada.

Environmental issues edit

Further information: Polystyrene § Environmental issues

Foam takeout containers entirely made out of polystyrene foam affect the environment as they do not biodegrade easily.[2] However, microbial degradation of styrene via methanogens has been investigated and confirmed, intermediate products being various organic substances and carbon dioxide.[3] Pseudomonas putida can also convert styrene oil into various biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates.[4][5] Some cities have banned the use of foam take-out containers, notably San Francisco,[6] Seattle[7] and Portland, Oregon.[8] In 2013, the mayor of New York City proposed banning foam food containers for both health and environmental reasons.[9] Implementation of this plan was put on hold while the ban was litigated by restaurant owners and polystyrene manufacturers. After three years of litigation, a judge ruled in favor of the city. In 2019, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed a state-wide ban.[10]

Health issues edit

Further information: Polystyrene § Health

According to American Cancer society the use of polystyrene is safe for food services .[11]

Styrene is considered by both the EPA and IARC to be a possible carcinogen.[12][13] It poses a health risk to workers involved in the production of styrene and polystyrene items, and industries have a compliance program to deal with liabilities.[14][unreliable source?] Prolonged exposure to high amounts of styrene may affect the central nervous system.[15]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Stevens, Laura (11 April 2014). "There's No Such Thing as a Styrofoam Cup". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  2. ^ . Earth Resource Foundation. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Deep Geologic Repository Project". ceaa-acee.gc.ca. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  4. ^ Roy, Robert (2006-03-07). "Immortal Polystyrene Foam Meets its Enemy". LiveScience. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  5. ^ Ward, PG; Goff, M; Donner, M; Kaminsky, W; O'Connor, KE (2006). "A two step chemo-biotechnological conversion of polystyrene to a biodegradable thermoplastic". Environmental Science and Technology. 40 (7): 2433–7. Bibcode:2006EnST...40.2433W. doi:10.1021/es0517668. PMID 16649270.
  6. ^ . treehugger.com. Archived from the original on 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  7. ^ "Seattle Styrofoam Ban Leads to Packaging Changes". Sustainableisgood.com. 2010-07-06. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  8. ^ "City of Portland Garbage and Recycling Rules and Regulations". Portlandonline.com. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  9. ^ Grynbaum, Michael M. (February 13, 2013). "To Go: Plastic-Foam Containers, if the Mayor Gets His Way". New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  10. ^ Ferré-Sadurní, Luis (23 December 2019). "New York State Moves to Ban Foam Food Container". New York Times. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Microwaving food in plastic: Dangerous or not?" 2015-01-07 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "epa.gov" (PDF). epa.gov. 2018-04-03. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  13. ^ "inchem.org". inchem.org. 2002-12-04. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  14. ^ . Earth Resource Foundation. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  15. ^ Welp, E.; Kogevinas, M.; Andersen, A.; Bellander, T.; Biocca, M.; Coggon, D.; Esteve, J.; Gennaro, V.; Kolstad, H.; Lundberg, I.; Lynge, E.; Partanen, T.; Spence, A.; Boffetta, P.; Ferro, G. (1996-10-01). "Exposure to styrene and mortality from nervous system diseases and mental disorders". American Journal of Epidemiology. 144 (7): 623–633. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a008973. ISSN 0002-9262. PMID 8823057.

January 01, 1970
foam, food, container, foam, food, container, form, disposable, food, packaging, various, foods, beverages, such, processed, instant, noodles, meat, from, supermarkets, cream, from, cream, parlors, cooked, food, from, delicatessens, food, stalls, beverages, li. A foam food container is a form of disposable food packaging for various foods and beverages such as processed instant noodles raw meat from supermarkets ice cream from ice cream parlors cooked food from delicatessens or food stalls or beverages like coffee to go They are also commonly used to serve takeout food from restaurants and are also available by request for diners who wish to take home the remainder of their meal The foam is a good thermal insulator making the container easy to carry as well as keeping the food at the temperature it had when filled into the container whether hot or cold Siu mei with rice in a foam takeout container Contents 1 Construction and composition 2 Varieties 3 Chinese cuisine 4 Environmental issues 5 Health issues 6 See also 7 ReferencesConstruction and composition editFoam take out containers are made from expanded polystyrene EPS foam or another type of polystyrene foam and produced by injecting the foam into a mold They are usually white in color although they may be printed or impressed with a company logo or other message EPS foam is sometimes incorrectly called Styrofoam as a generic term Styrofoam is a trademark of The Dow Chemical Company for closed cell extruded polystyrene XPS foam used for thermal insulation and craft applications By contrast EPS foam is typically white and made of expanded polystyrene beads and used for disposable coffee cups coolers or as cushioning material in packaging 1 Another trade name for EPS is thermacol originated by BASF Varieties edit nbsp Khanom krok Thai doughnuts with egg and coconut fillings in a foam container The different varieties of foam takeout containers may include A rectangular shaped clamshell style container with an attached lid which comes in various sizes The larger ones usually feature several compartments allowing different foods to be kept separated from each other This variety usually features several small projections on the lid of the container which fit through slots on the bottom half to lock it therefore keeping the cover closed These containers are leak resistant only if kept upright and often have a square imprint area for labeling A cylindrical style container with a separate translucent or opaque plastic lid which can seal tightly to resist leaks The container may or may not taper somewhat towards the bottom Both overall size and the ratio of height to diameter can vary greatly Such containers usually hold soups and stews however smaller varieties are often used to hold sauces and condiments Chinese cuisine editFoam containers are the most commonly used takeout box for Chinese cuisines in East and Southeast Asia It is standard for Cantonese cuisine in Hong Kong and many parts of China and sometimes used overseas in various restaurants particularly in the United States and Canada Environmental issues editFurther information Polystyrene Environmental issues Foam takeout containers entirely made out of polystyrene foam affect the environment as they do not biodegrade easily 2 However microbial degradation of styrene via methanogens has been investigated and confirmed intermediate products being various organic substances and carbon dioxide 3 Pseudomonas putida can also convert styrene oil into various biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates 4 5 Some cities have banned the use of foam take out containers notably San Francisco 6 Seattle 7 and Portland Oregon 8 In 2013 the mayor of New York City proposed banning foam food containers for both health and environmental reasons 9 Implementation of this plan was put on hold while the ban was litigated by restaurant owners and polystyrene manufacturers After three years of litigation a judge ruled in favor of the city In 2019 New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed a state wide ban 10 Health issues editFurther information Polystyrene Health According to American Cancer society the use of polystyrene is safe for food services 11 Styrene is considered by both the EPA and IARC to be a possible carcinogen 12 13 It poses a health risk to workers involved in the production of styrene and polystyrene items and industries have a compliance program to deal with liabilities 14 unreliable source Prolonged exposure to high amounts of styrene may affect the central nervous system 15 See also edit nbsp Food portal Clamshell container Oyster pail Disposable food packagingReferences edit Stevens Laura 11 April 2014 There s No Such Thing as a Styrofoam Cup Wall Street Journal Retrieved 21 November 2017 Polystyrene Foam Report Earth Resource Foundation Archived from the original on 25 March 2013 Retrieved 20 March 2013 Deep Geologic Repository Project ceaa acee gc ca Retrieved 1 February 2023 Roy Robert 2006 03 07 Immortal Polystyrene Foam Meets its Enemy LiveScience Retrieved 2018 04 16 Ward PG Goff M Donner M Kaminsky W O Connor KE 2006 A two step chemo biotechnological conversion of polystyrene to a biodegradable thermoplastic Environmental Science and Technology 40 7 2433 7 Bibcode 2006EnST 40 2433W doi 10 1021 es0517668 PMID 16649270 San Francisco Bans Styrofoam for To Go Containers treehugger com Archived from the original on 2009 03 04 Retrieved 2009 03 18 Seattle Styrofoam Ban Leads to Packaging Changes Sustainableisgood com 2010 07 06 Retrieved 2018 04 16 City of Portland Garbage and Recycling Rules and Regulations Portlandonline com Retrieved 2018 04 16 Grynbaum Michael M February 13 2013 To Go Plastic Foam Containers if the Mayor Gets His Way New York Times Retrieved 20 March 2013 Ferre Sadurni Luis 23 December 2019 New York State Moves to Ban Foam Food Container New York Times Retrieved 25 December 2019 Microwaving food in plastic Dangerous or not Archived 2015 01 07 at the Wayback Machine epa gov PDF epa gov 2018 04 03 Retrieved 2018 04 16 inchem org inchem org 2002 12 04 Retrieved 2018 04 16 Polystyrene Foam Report Earth Resource Foundation Archived from the original on 25 March 2013 Retrieved 18 August 2015 Welp E Kogevinas M Andersen A Bellander T Biocca M Coggon D Esteve J Gennaro V Kolstad H Lundberg I Lynge E Partanen T Spence A Boffetta P Ferro G 1996 10 01 Exposure to styrene and mortality from nervous system diseases and mental disorders American Journal of Epidemiology 144 7 623 633 doi 10 1093 oxfordjournals aje a008973 ISSN 0002 9262 PMID 8823057 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Foam food container amp oldid 1219842916, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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