Knowledge and Behavior of Food Seller for Selection of Plastic Bags to Fill Hot Food with the Problem of Contamination of Heavy Metals from Plastic Bags: A Case Study in the Market of Khon Kaen University

Abstract

Introduction: The popularity of using plastic bags to fill hot food due to lack of the awareness about the health hazards of plastic bags. Method: Study the knowledge and behavior include the relationship between knowledge and behavior of food sellers to use plastic bags to fill hot food with the problem of contamination of heavy metals from plastic bags in the market of Khon Kaen University. The participants consisted of 106 food sellers.  Data were collected by using questionnaires. The heavy metal contaminations with the melt from plastic bag were analyzed by using Standard TIS. 656-2556. Results: The most of the food sellers knew that plastic bags for food packaging must be messages used for food packaging on the label (84.0%), and plastic bags for food packaging must be messages instruction how to use and warnings on the label (79.2%). The majority of the food sellers bought plastic bags to fill hot food from wholesale - retail plastic bag (81.1%). Some of the food sellers chose plastic bags from convenient stores that easy to buy (59.4%) and bough plastic bags that has label for hot food only (52.8%). It was also found that there were significantly correlation between the knowledge about plastic bags for food packaging must be messages used for food packaging on the label and  the behavioral for selection of plastic bags to fill hot food (P<0.05). The plastic bags that the participants were used cannot use to fill hot food. They are under the standard of announcement of label issue 9 (2001) that defined the controlling of plastic products. Analysis of heavy metal contamination with melt out of the sample plastic bag to contaminated with food by Standard TIS. 656-2556 at temperature (60±2) degree Celsius duration 30 minutes all samples did not found the  contamination with heavy metals. However, the analysis at temperature (95±2) degree Celsius duration 30 minutes of all samples had found the contamination with heavy metals, but had not exceeded the standard label. Conclusion: Knowledge did not affect the use of plastic bags to fill hot food and found temperature affects the amount of heavy metal contamination.