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Pardon Me, Is That Deca-bromine In Your Food Shipment?
The Hidden Dangers of Plastic Pallets

Vineland, NJ – A recent letter of warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the potential dangers of plastic pallets was posted on Refrigeratedfrozenfood.com.

According to Michael Smith, President and C.O.O. of PALNET, a nationwide supplier of shipping pallets, "Food producers thinking of switching from wooden pallets to plastic for environmental reasons should think again. Plastic pallets can contain the fire retardant deca-bromine. Is that a problem? The FDA thinks so."

The letter written by an FDA consumer safety officer stated, "If pre-cooling solution is recycled and/or there is vertical racking of the dripping pre-cooled pallets, there is the possibility that decabromodiphenyl ether (also called deca-bromine) may become a component of the produce being shipped." The FDA letter also warned that deca-bromine is "not authorized for this use and in order for it to be used in contact with food under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act, it must have pre-market approval."

"In other words," according to Smith, "plastic pallets may be shipping out more than manufacturers intend. Plastic, in any form, deserves an 'F' on any environmental test."

According to the website, Naturalenvironment.com, the fact that plastic doesn't break down for hundreds of years is especially bad news for the environment. They point out that plastic kills thousands of animals around the world every day. Their facts/statistics on the impact plastic is having on our oceans are sobering.

Plastic causes the deaths of more than a million seabirds every year.

Plastic causes the deaths of more than 100,000 marine mammals each year.

According to estimates by the UN Environment Program in 2006, every square mile of ocean contains 46,000 pieces of floating plastic.

What's the solution?

Smith adds, "Select pallets that are environmental from beginning to end. Wooden pallets are a natural choice. They honor the three 'R's' of recycling: Repair, Recycle and Reuse, which is the natural cycle of a wooden pallet." Wooden pallets also help companies sustain their bottom lines. "They are usually bought not rented. The cost of a lost, rented plastic pallet can be significant often resulting in an unexpected bill that can run into thousands if not millions on an annual basis," says Smith.

 

For more information on PALNET and its products and
services, EMAIL US or call 1-877-PALNET-1

 

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