It is generally considered food safe as far as plastics go. It is fine to use as a container material as far as anyone knows.

Even the safest plastics have been found to leech stuff that may or may not be toxic to humans or plants under some circumstances such as high heat, but as far as plastics in general go polyethylene is considered 'safe'.

You have been and almost certainly will continue to eat stuff that has been stored in such plastics.

Polyethylene containers are non-hydroscopic, meaning that the amount of chemicals that leach into their contents are minuscule... most plastic bottles that we drink from are made of polypropylene or polyethylene. They are considered safe for consuming out of.

PVC is considered to be the dangerous plastic for potable water, and shouldn't be used. It actually leaches vinyl chloride, a known cancer causing agent, into the water it carries.

The bus pans you're thinking of using ARE safe for use.

My husband is an industrial engineer in the plastics industry, and always gives me the low-down on the plastic pots and things I use. :-)

jodik

I wonder if I could impose upon your husband's expertise?

I make sauerkraut adding just salt to the cabbage and a few minor veggies.
Then I weight this concoction down with a food grade plastic bag filled with water for 30 days or so.

Does he know of any leeching problems from the bags that could occur during this fermentation process? It's my understanding that plastic bags are not as prone to leech as the hard plastics. Thanks for your help.

I can't vouch for long term safety, but I have a lot of lettuce in that kind of container right now.

Alice