Abstract
Chemicals associated with health problems can migrate from packaging into food matrices. Therefore, consumers need to be aware of health concerns associated with incorrectly used plastic food packaging. However, little is known about consumers’ knowledge and their plastics usage practices. This study assessed this knowledge and practices among young South African adult consumers. Our online survey of 293 participants focused on their objective (actual) and subjective (self-perceived) knowledge about plastic food packaging care and safety, their utilization practices, and their sources of information about safe use of plastics. Participants’ utilization practices showed broad misuse. Their subjective knowledge about the correct use of plastic packaging was in most respects contradicted by their limited objective knowledge. We found that plastic identification codes on packaging largely failed in their informative purpose; instead, participants mainly consulted informal information sources about plastics. The knowledge gaps, unsafe plastic use practices, and information source deficiencies identified here can help to guide future improvements. We call for consumer education, across all demographics, about plastic utilization practices and associated health concerns about plastic chemicals. We also highlight the need for the government, food and plastics industries to join forces in ensuring that consumers are informed about safe plastic packaging usage.
Highlights
Food packaging is rapidly evolving [1]
Exploratory factor analyses (EFA) relating to the frequency of food consumption from plastic packaging (35.9%) and objective knowledge about reuse practices (33.4%) had a low percentage variance explained
“utilization practices of plastic identification codes” (5 items relating to these codes) and subjective knowledge about “utilization practices” (11 items relating to different practices) had interitem correlations higher than 0.6, indicating that items within these factors had a higher level of similarity (Table 3)
Summary
Food packaging is rapidly evolving [1]. Such packaging serves several purposes, including physically protecting food and beverages during production, transport and storing processes; safeguarding food from spoilage; and providing product information [1,2]. Research on plastics and health concerns is abundant; only a few studies relate to consumers’ awareness of plastics and human health [28,41,42] and does not focus on plastic as food packaging This gap is even more apparent in South Africa, where existing research pertains to plastic and sustainability [43]. Given increasing health consciousness among consumers and their concern over the naturalness of food [44], it is in their best interest to use plastic packaging of food products safely, to avoid migration of chemical residues into what will be ingested, and to prevent their healthy eating efforts from being undermined. Healthy eating has long been seen as an effective way to stay healthy; it needs safeguarding from the harmful effects of plastic packaging misuse
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