The NBC Today show aired a Consumer Alert story on April 10, about plastics – particularly plastic bottles and Bisphenol-A (“BPA”). BPA is used in the production of polycarbonate containers. There were several inaccurate statements made about plastics and BPA in the broadcast – the main one affecting our business was a camera shot of the resin code #6, polystyrene, implying that BPA is part of polystyrene products. Polystyrene #6 and Bisphenol-A have nothing to do with one another. Bisphenol-A is not used, directly or indirectly, in the manufacture of Dart polystyrene products. The inclusion of polystyrene in this report is completely inaccurate.

Additionally, a statement intimated that “plastics in general are unsafe to use in the microwave.” Dart has literature (M-334) and several links in the Environment section of our website addressing best practices for use of plastics in a microwave oven.

Finally, it was suggested that the chasing arrows recycling emblems which are placed around the resin codes somehow designate what plastics are safe and not safe. Please note, the resin codes were developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) solely to identify the material from which a product is produced. Again, there are links on our website that clarify this information.

Dart is a member of the Plastics Foodservice Packaging Group, which is a part of the American Chemistry Council. The American Chemistry Council has addressed the erroneous information with NBC in hopes of receiving equal time with an equal audience to contradict these unscientific assertions and untruths. A special website—www.factsonplastics.com--has been developed to assist in answering some of the questions that have been raised by the broadcast. Visit the website provided below to see the information that is available; and sign up to receive additional information as it is posted to the site.

Click here for a download of the press release from the American Chemistry Council