Advantages and disadvantages of polymeric materials. Materials used for the manufacture of inventory, equipment, utensils, packaging

For the manufacture of containers, equipment, utensils, inventory, packaging, materials are used that are approved by the USSR Ministry of Health for contact with food products.

Food utensils, equipment coating” containers are made from various materials: glass, metals, wood, paper, cardboard, clay, mineral raw materials, various polymeric materials.

These materials must meet the following requirements:

not have a negative impact on the biological value of the product, not worsen the organoleptic properties of products or prepared food;

provide protection food products from pollution from environment;

have a smooth, polished, non-porous inner surface.

Metal utensils. Metals are widely used for the manufacture of kitchen and tableware, pipelines in the food industry, cutlery, containers for transporting liquid products, washing baths, etc.

Stainless steel of some food grades has high anti-corrosion properties, resistance to aggressive environments of food products. Stainless steel products are durable and long lasting.

Aluminum utensils. Aluminum, duralumin and their alloys are used as a material for the manufacture of dishes. Aluminum and its compounds have low solubility in a liquid aggressive food environment. Aluminum utensils, especially those made from alloys, are susceptible to table salt, some organic acids contained in vegetables, fruits, berries. At the same time, the protective film of aluminum oxides, which protects the dishes from corrosion, dissolves in the liquid content. In this regard, it is not recommended to ferment cabbage, pickle cucumbers, cook sour cabbage soup, etc. in aluminum utensils. To improve the anti-corrosion properties of aluminum utensils, modern methods processing - the inner surface is ground, polished, varnished, made matte silver, etc. Aluminum alloys are used to make foil, which is widely used in the confectionery industry; varnished foil is used for packaging cheeses. The composition of aluminum alloys includes impurities of some metals that can have a harmful effect on the human body, so the impurities used are strictly standardized (zinc, lead, arsenic, copper, iron).

Dishes made of iron and cast iron. Iron is a common material for the manufacture of cooking pots, containers, equipment, buckets, pans, baking sheets, enamelware. Iron is not stable and is easily oxidized and forms compounds that dissolve in liquid food, causing a change in its color (darkening) and taste (metallic taste). Therefore, iron products must have protective coatings. Without coatings, only baking sheets and pans are used, on which food is cooked in the presence of fat (fat, covering the surface of iron, prevents the oxidizing action of oxygen). Coatings of enamel, tin (tinning), zinc (galvanized dishes) are used for iron utensils.

Enamelware. It is an iron dish, the outer and inner sides of which are covered with enamel - an alloy (like glass) of feldspar, soda, borax, sand, tin oxide.

Enamel can be white or tinted (by introducing oxides of manganese, chromium, etc.). Strict requirements are imposed on the preparation of enamels, especially those intended for interior coatings, since in case of violation of the recipe, compounds that cause food poisoning (lead, antimony, etc.) can be used as components. Enamelware is not used in enterprises Catering and trade, as it has poor impact resistance and thermal stability - with a sharp change in temperature and impact, cracks and chips form, exposing iron. Dishes with chips should not be used for cooking and storing food.

Ceramic tableware. Pottery includes earthenware, glazed (pottery), faience, porcelain and majolica dishes.

Clay glazed dishes. Pottery is currently not widely used. They are made from clay fired in a kiln. Glaze is applied to the inner and outer sides of the dishes - an alloy of oxides of silicon, potassium, sodium and other metals, as well as lead oxide (litharge). A special grade of fritted glaze with a lead content of about 12% should be used for pottery coatings. The fritted glaze is highly durable and does not contain easily soluble lead compounds. On industrial enterprises producing enameled and pottery, local authorities of the sanitary and epidemiological service should carry out strict control over the quality of enamels and glazes.

Faience and porcelain dishes. Represents earthenware, which are somewhat different from each other chemical composition and manufacturing technology. Outside and inside the products are covered with glaze. The glaze of earthenware products containing lead (to give shine) is not particularly durable. During the operation of products, a network of small cracks appears, chips are easily formed. The use of such utensils is not permitted.

Glaze porcelain ware has greater strength, hardness and resistance to acids.

Porcelain and faience are used to make tableware and tea utensils.

Glassware. Glass is used to make glasses, wine glasses, jars, bottles and other products for food contact. The glass must be highly resistant to the acids contained in the products. There are special grades of heat-resistant glass that are used to make pots and pans used in everyday life. Glass of shock-resistant and acid-resistant grades is used for the manufacture of pipelines at dairies, wineries and other food industrial enterprises.

If the manufacturing technology is violated, air bubbles may appear in the thickness of the glass, which reduces the strength of the glass and increases the possibility of it getting into food products. If there are many bubbles, the dishes are rejected. When chips appear on the upper edge glass products should be married. It is not allowed to use glassware made of glass with foreign inclusions, as they reduce the durability of products.

Wooden utensils, containers, equipment. Wood is widely used for making cutting boards, small equipment (mixers, rolling pins), barrels, barrels, chairs (blocks) for cutting meat and fish, etc. Wood does not adversely affect the quality of products, does not change their organoleptic and physical properties. chemical properties, does not corrode, does not give harmful substances into the food mass. However, wood is porous, absorbs liquid substances, and can be exposed to bacterial attack (mucus-forming bacteria, mold, etc.). In order to reduce or exclude the ability to absorb liquid substances, wood products are impregnated from the inside or coated with varnishes or resins approved for contact with food products. For the same purpose, wood products are lined from the inside with liners made of synthetic materials.

Wooden containers are used to store fermented and salted vegetables and mushrooms, salted fish and corned beef, tomato paste, butter, marmalade, feta cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese and other products.

Paper containers and packaging. Sheet paper is used as a packaging material for solid foods. Disposable tableware (paraffinized glasses for ice cream and sour cream, plates, etc.) is made from paper pulp impregnated with paraffin of permitted brands. High-grade paper (parchment and sub-parchment) is used for packaging fat-containing products - butter, cheese, herring, waffles, etc. This paper does not absorb moisture and fat, and prevents the products from drying out. Increasingly, paper is being used in combination with synthetic materials.

For drawing inscriptions and drawings on paper, paint is used that is approved for use by the State Sanitary Inspectorate. On the surface of the product, paints should not leave an imprint (cottage cheese) or impart an extraneous smell to it. The use of such paints should not be allowed. Also, the use of paints containing soluble toxic substances is not allowed.

For packing confectionery cardboard and corrugated cardboard are used - a type of paper made from straw or wood pulp and waste paper. Cardboard and corrugated cardboard are used for packaging products with wrappers. To pack confectionery products without wrappers, cardboard boxes from the inside should be glued or lined with parchment or parchment. Currently, a combination of cardboard and synthetic materials is used.

polymeric materials. In the food industry, public catering and trade and warehouse networks, products made of polymeric materials are increasingly being used.

Polymeric materials are used to make machine parts and refrigeration units, pipelines, containers, packaging materials.

Polymeric materials (raw materials and products) are produced on different enterprises chemical industry and for different technologies and may have different physical and chemical properties. In this regard, the SES is assigned a large role in organizing and conducting preventive sanitary supervision over the production of products made of polymeric materials and their use in food enterprises.

The advantages of products made of polymeric materials include their strength, lightness, and good preservation of food products.

The disadvantages of polymeric materials include the ability to acquire negative properties over time - "aging". Under the influence of elevated temperatures, UV rays, air oxygen and other factors, complex chemical transformations occur in polymers, as a result of which the properties of polymers deteriorate - strength, elasticity decrease, brittleness, surface tarnishing appear, fat and dyes are adsorbed on it, after disinfection it remains the smell of chlorine, in addition, low-molecular toxic substances are formed in the polymer mass, which are soluble in a liquid food medium and have an adverse effect on the human body.

Due to the possibility of a negative impact of polymers on the human body, it is recommended to use products in strict accordance with the purpose indicated by the stamp on each product - “for cold water”, “for food”, “for hot dishes”, etc.

The following groups of polymers are most widely used: polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride, fluoroplastics, polystyrenes, polyacrylates, aminoplasts, polyethylene terephthalate (lavsan), polycarbonates, epoxy compounds, cellulose-based materials, rubber, combined compounds.

Polyolefins. This group includes polypropylene and polyethylene of low and high pressure. Polyethylene has a high chemical resistance to aggressive compounds, moisture-proof, frost-resistant. Withstands temperatures from -15° C to 110° C. Subject to aging under the action of atmospheric oxygen and UV rays. Polyethylene in the form of films is used for packaging products of various types (bread, milk, fish, confectionery, bulk products, etc.). Polyethylene bags as liners in barrels are used for storing fish products in brine, pickled and salted vegetables. Sulphated potatoes are transported in polyethylene bags. Bags with a capacity of 0.5 and 1 l are used as containers for milk and dairy products. Polypropylene is used to make canning lids, serving trays, dishwasher parts, etc.

Polyvinyl chloride. Possesses durability, hardness, is chemically resistant, maintains temperature from _io °c to 65 °C. Pipelines, parts of equipment, small containers for food products are made from polyvinyl chloride. From a variety of polyvinyl chloride, a Saran-type heat-shrink film is used, which is used in the food industry for packaging bird carcasses and sausage products. Another variety - polyvinyl alcohol- used for the manufacture of sausage casings and coatings of hard cheeses.

Fluoroplastics. They have heat resistance, frost resistance, chemical resistance, strength. Used as a coating for pans for frying fish.

Polystyrenes. Possess hardness, moisture resistance, resistance to fats. The disadvantages include instability to impacts and temperatures above 80°C. Polystyrenes are used for the manufacture of packaging for cheeses, meat and dairy products, dishes, trays, graters, parts of refrigerators, etc.

Polyacrylates. Resistant to aggressive environments. A variety of polyacrylate - organic glass - is used in the confectionery and baking industry as containers for dough, liquid yeast and fruit and berry masses. Parts for milking machines are made from plexiglass.

Aminoplasts. One polymer from this group, melalite, is a decorative layered plastic used as a facing material for tables and walls in public catering and trade establishments.

Lavsan. Possesses durability, heat resistance, is steady against light and acids. Lavsan is used to filter milk, it is used to sew bags for whey extrusion in the manufacture of cottage cheese.

Polika rbonata. They are durable, resistant to aggressive environments ( fruit juices, fats, alcohol, disinfectant solutions) do not change the color of the product. Withstand heating up to 140°C. They are used for the manufacture of utensils for feeding aircraft passengers.

Polyamides (kapron, kaprolon). They have durability. The disadvantages include instability to fats, alkalis, the action of molds and bacteria. They are used for the manufacture of parts of creaming machines that do not come into contact with cream (karon), and parts of machines that come into contact with milk and meat (karolon).

Epoxy compounds. As epoxy resins are part of the internal coatings of metal containers for wine, beer, juices, as well as varnishes for coating cans from the inside. Resistant to alkalis, disinfectants, steam treatment.

Cellulose-based materials (cellophane, etc.). They are resistant to low temperatures, fats. They do not have moisture resistance. Used for making films. Three-layer cellophane is used for the manufacture of sausage casings. Cellophane coated with nitro varnish is used for packaging pasta, fish cooking, ghee, popcorn, confectionery, frozen food. Plumbing equipment is made from cellulose-based materials.

Rubber. Polymeric materials obtained on the basis of natural and artificial rubber. They contain toxic fillers, their dissolution in the mass of the product and causes the toxicity of rubber products during aging. Gaskets and seals for machine parts are prepared from rubber. In the food industry, rubber-based films (escaplain, etc.) are used. Films are used for packaging frozen and hygroscopic products (sublimated) - fruits, as well as for culinary products and peelless cheese.

Combined materials. Combined materials are widely used:

a combination of polymer films (more often polyethylene), cardboard, paper, foil - for packaging food concentrates;

laboratory plastic tableware has an anti-adhesive and hydrophobic surface. It is also extremely chemically resistant both to very concentrated or dilute alkalis and acids, and to aliphatic alcohols, aldehydes, aliphatic hydrocarbons.

Laboratory glassware made of polypropylene guarantees consistently high resistance to the bulk of halogenated hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, and in addition to ethers and ethers, ketones, including in case of interaction with them for 1 month. The temperature regime of operation is in the range from "-10" to "+135" degrees Celsius. Can be sterilized with steam (for 20 minutes at °t "+121" degrees Celsius), gas (ethylene oxide) and ethanol or formalin. Thanks to laboratory glassware made of plastic, it is possible to perform hot filtration without preheating the filter funnels.

Using containers (for urine, containers general purpose, containers, sterile and non-sterile) of plastic, medical institutions were able to increase the productivity of laboratories and were able to ensure greater safety for both medical staff and patients. Cassettes, rings, forms (histological, biopsy) produced for manual marking, subsequent filling and transportation of the studied tissues and preparations also greatly facilitated the life of medical laboratories.

An important device that is used in microbiology and biotechnology for the purpose of dispensing liquids during serological and bacteriological experiments is the Pasteur pipette. Disposable transfer pipettes (Pasteur) are in great demand, they are convenient and safe to use, used for transportation and storage of biological materials.

Plastic pipettes are used to solve many problems in the field of medicine or chemistry. And serological plastic pipettes are just one of many plastic creations that are hard to do without these days. By the way, plastic serological pipettes Jet Biofil are considered the most popular.

Piston pipetators (devices for working with pipettes), designed for convenient and, most importantly, safe filling of pipettes of all types and other manipulations with them, are also made of plastic. The design of the device resembles the device of a syringe, the filling of the pipette attached to it occurs due to the vacuum in the working cylinder when the piston rises.

Disposable Petri dishes (sterile) are gradually replacing their glass predecessors from microbiological laboratories. A spatula-spoon, wide or narrow, is much more convenient if it is made of plastic. The same can be said about serological tablets, for example, for determining the blood type, or about cups for analyzers and tips for dispensers, universal.

A separate discussion deserves a variety of plastic containers. They are light, easy to use and do not break. For example, wash bottles are bottles with a tightly screwed cap made of soft polyethylene, into which a special cannula is mounted, with which you can get a thin and sharp stream of liquid. Washers are used for washing electrodes and other parts of analyzers, as well as for washing blood cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes), pouring dyes onto glasses when staining smears, and for other purposes. The plugs are hermetically sealed.

Reagent jars made of plastic are based on polypropylene. A material that guarantees excellent performance when interacting with chemical mixtures and reagents. Moreover, the base is also resistant to high temperatures. The structure of this material is strong and quite wear-resistant. If all operating conditions are observed, the containers will last for a very long period of time.

Woolf bottles are cylinders and, like cans, are used to store a variety of liquid reagents. At the bottom, the Wolfe bottle is equipped with a tap, which simplifies the pouring of the usually aggressive liquid in the vessel into another laboratory glassware. The safest, unbreakable models are made of plastic.

Graduated wide or narrow mouth plastic bottles are ideal for transporting various toxic samples. They can be protected from the possibility of unauthorized opening by using special eyelets on the rim or a protective ring.

This section also includes numerous laboratory beakers, for example, PP beakers with divisions, beakers made of polypropylene, measuring cylinders made of polypropylene with a spout and other measuring cylinders, as well as flasks and test tubes. On our website you can buy trays for dispensers and polyethylene funnels.

Laboratory glassware made of plastic has all the necessary certificates of conformity, as well as sanitary and epidemiological conclusions.

Disposable utensils are convenient and indispensable for many things: a quick snack on the street, going out into nature, a light buffet and so on. At the same time, there are reports on the Internet that it is harmful to health. To learn how to properly use plastic products in everyday life, you need to know and observe the features of their use. Recently, on the Internet, you can read a lot of opinions "for" and "against" polymer products, especially with regard to plastic disposable tableware. Some of the most common of them, commented on by experts public institution"Minsk regional center hygiene, epidemiology and public health”.

1. “Many plastic products may contain harmful stabilizers, salts of heavy metals and other toxic substances, and all this when heated, especially when reused, can enter our body. That is why disposable tableware cannot be reused.” Probably, it is not for nothing that the dishes are called disposable, which excludes the possibility of their reuse?

Disposable tableware is intended for single use and therefore it is not recommended to reuse it. These products are produced from certain grades of polymeric materials, which, as a result of repeated and prolonged exposure to high temperatures and aggressive environments, can quickly collapse. I would like to note that all types of utensils, containers and packaging for food raw materials and food products made of polymeric materials, even before they enter circulation, are examined for safety and harmlessness for the consumer, including the migration of chemicals into contact with this polymer material of the medium. Without carrying out toxicological tests and obtaining a positive sanitary-hygienic conclusion based on its results, none of the types of such products can be put into circulation on the territory of our country.

2. “Polyvinyl chloride is used to make bottles for drinks, boxes for cosmetics, containers for household chemicals, and disposable tableware. Over time, PVC begins to release a harmful substance - vinyl chloride. Naturally, from the bottle it gets into drinks, from the plate - into food, and from there - directly into the human body. And vinyl chloride is a carcinogen. A PVC bottle begins to release this dangerous substance a week after the contents have been poured into it. A month later, several milligrams of vinyl chloride accumulate in mineral water. Oncologists say that this amount is sufficient for the development of malignant diseases. How true is this statement?

It is worth remembering that any polymer material from which a bottle, food container or dish is made is obtained by polymerization (the formation of a high molecular weight substance by repeatedly attaching molecules of a low molecular weight substance to active centers in a growing polymer molecule). In the process of storage and use of a product made of polymeric materials under the influence of various chemical and physical factors (acidic or alkaline environment, intense light, high or low temperature, exposure to radiation, etc.), processes of structure change may occur in it, accompanied by some release into the environment a number of chemicals and compounds. Failure to comply with the rules for the use of such products leads to the entry into the body of negligible amounts of these substances, the summation of the effect of which, with prolonged, systematic use, can cause irreversible changes in various tissues of the body.

3. “Often plastic bottles are reused, they are poured into tea or fruit drinks and even alcoholic beverages. Five-liter bottles have replaced buckets and canisters for summer residents, or they are used to store Epiphany water from “living” sources. But few people know that nothing but water can be refilled into water bottles! Yes, and water is not in everything, but only in PET bottles, and PVC bottles cannot be reused at all.” Is it really true?

Containers made of polyethylene terephthalate, mainly this material is most often used for the manufacture of packaging for mineral water and non-alcoholic carbonated drinks, has a certain service life, during which, when this product is stored, it does not negative impact on the taste and safety of the product. Re-packing water, and even more so tea, compotes and fruit drinks, which are more aggressive environments, into a once used container is not recommended.

4. “Bottle plastic remains neutral only in the absence of oxygen, i.e. as long as the water retains its original chemical composition. As soon as the bottle is opened, the water quickly changes its properties, after which the plastic inevitably changes its properties. As for the “living” and holy water, its healing properties can only be preserved in glass containers.” Do you agree with this statement?

With prolonged, improper storage and (or) use of products made of polymeric materials, the processes of their destruction can proceed more intensively. Of course, glass is a more stable compound than a polymeric material; it does not change its properties even under the action of acids, alkalis and solvents. As packaging for the long-term storage of liquids and foodstuffs, it is a priority.

5. “Disposable PVC cups can only be used for water. It is better not to drink sour juices, sodas, hot and strong drinks from them. Is this the correct recommendation?

Labeling on products “for foodstuffs” provides for its use periodically for one-time, and not long-term contact. It is not allowed to repackage and store food liquids and products in them. Do not reuse disposable tableware or consumer packaging from various food and drink products (containers, boxes, bottles, etc.). After consumption of the food or drink packaged in them, they are subject to separate collection and subsequent disposal.

6. “If the Latin letters PS are applied to the dishes, it means that the vessel is made of polystyrene. You can drink cold drinks from it, but hot tea or coffee (with a temperature of +70 and above) is not worth it. The same effect, if you pour a strong drink into a polystyrene vessel, for example, vodka. Styrene accumulated in the body stimulates the development of liver cirrhosis. How true is this statement?

Polystyrene belongs to the group of plastics based on polymers of unsaturated hydrocarbons. From various grades of polystyrene plastics at a temperature of 60-80 °C, styrene migration into model solutions is noted, and at a temperature of 20 °C, styrene is not released. In addition, at high temperatures, in addition to styrene, migration of other chemicals that make up polystyrene is also noted. Alcoholic solutions of alcoholic beverages are a more aggressive environment than tea, coffee and water, the use of this type of utensils for their packaging is prohibited.

7. “Polypropylene utensils (PP marking) are safer. It can withstand temperatures up to +100 degrees. But again, doctors don’t recommend drinking from it - you can transplant the kidneys and even go blind, which will be facilitated by the phenol released from the glass. Is this a horror story or is it true?

Polypropylene is a polymerization product of propylene. The intensity of migration of low-molecular compounds and ingredients included in its composition is also affected by temperature, with an increase in which migration naturally increases. The amount of methanol emitted is negligible, but in combination with other polluting components, it can have an adverse effect. Therefore, when using dishes made of polymeric materials in everyday life, one should pay attention to the markings applied to them: “for non-food purposes”, “for drinking water”, “for cold foods”, “for hot foods”, etc. and strictly follow these instructions. And, of course, you can’t use polymer dishes with a different marking and not intended for food storage at all.

8. There are many such tips on the Internet. But they usually don't have names. But in reality, doctors advise consumers to learn to distinguish the symbols on the back of products - in order to know what the dishes are made of and use them correctly. Do you agree with this? Can you give some more good recommendations to the readers of Domashniy Zhurnal?

Currently, there are a large number of more stable materials for daily use and long-term storage of products - these are glass, porcelain, ceramics, etc. If you still use plastic containers in household use, then it will not be superfluous to study and remember the main types of its marking, which are offered to your attention below. Guided by the knowledge and simple rules for the use of plastic products, you will be able to properly use that huge variety of useful products and items made of polymer materials in everyday life without any fear for your health.

A special marking on the bottom of any plastic product informs the buyer about the type of polymer material from which it is made:

1. PET or PET - polyethylene terphthalate. Used for the manufacture of packaging (bottles, cans, boxes, etc.) for bottling soft drinks, juices, water. Also, this material can be found in packages for various types of powders, bulk food products, etc. Very well recyclable and reusable.

2. HDPE or PVD - high pressure polyethylene. Used to make mugs and bags for milk and water, bottles for bleach, shampoos, detergents and cleaners. For the manufacture of plastic bags, canisters for motor and other machine oils, etc. Very well recyclable and reusable.

3.V - PVC or PVC - polyvinyl chloride. It is used for packing liquids for washing windows, edible vegetable oils. Cans are made from it for packaging bulk food products and various kinds of edible fats. And it is this plastic that is practically not recyclable. Moreover, there is evidence that the carcinogen vinyl chloride contained in it has the ability to penetrate into food, and then into the human body. Also, for the production of PVC, many additives are used that are very toxic to humans: phthalates, heavy metals, etc. And yet, the process of production, use and disposal of PVC is accompanied by the formation of a large amount of dioxins (the most dangerous poisons) and other extremely toxic chemicals.

4. LDPE or HDPE - polyethylene low pressure. Used in the production of plastic bags, flexible plastic packaging and some plastic bottles. Good for recycling and reuse.

5. PP or PP - polypropylene. Bottle caps, discs, syrup and ketchup bottles, yogurt cups, and film packaging are made from it.

6. PS or PS - polystyrene. It is used in the production of pallets for meat and poultry, containers for eggs.

7. OTHER or OTHER. A mixture of various plastics or polymers not listed above. Packaging marked with this number cannot be recycled and ends its life cycle in a landfill or in an incinerator. Now you can determine the type of plastic that you use daily for domestic purposes.

Head of the Department of Hygiene Milanovich I.V.

Head of the laboratory department Kobyashev I.A.

Many people know that you can return the product within fourteen days from the date of purchase, if it was not in use and the presentation is preserved. However, there are some difficulties with regard to plates and sets of dishes. Buyers continually encounter violations of consumer rights and inform us that the seller does not accept the dishes back, justifying their refusal by the fact that the dishes are included in the list of goods of good quality that cannot be exchanged or returned. Let's see if the seller's actions are legal and whether it is really impossible to return plates and other utensils back to the store within 14 days from the date of purchase.

In what cases can I return the dishes to the store?

To begin with, we will analyze the general conditions for the return of goods of good quality. To terminate the contract of sale and return Money for the purchased dishes, you must comply with the following conditions:

1. No more than 14 calendar days have passed since the purchase.
2. You have kept the presentation of the dishes (didn’t tear off the labels, stickers, didn’t throw them away and didn’t spoil the packaging).
3. You have not used the utensils, and they have no traces of use.
4. The seller, at the time of refusal to purchase, does not have other dishes that would suit you in size, shape, dimensions, style or color.
5. Purchased crockery is not included in the List non-food items of good quality, not subject to return or exchange, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 55 of 01.1998. (hereinafter - the List).

If, as a rule, there are no problems with the first four points, then it is difficult to determine whether the dishes are non-returnable goods.

Clause 6 of the List specifies products and materials that are wholly or partially made of polymeric materials and come into contact with food (tableware and tableware and kitchen utensils, containers and packaging materials for storing and transporting food products, including those for single use).

A literal interpretation of paragraph 6 of this List allows us to conclude that dishes made entirely or partially from polymeric materials cannot be returned or exchanged. That is, if the dishes are made of polymeric materials, then they cannot be returned or exchanged. If, however, polymeric materials were not used in the manufacture of dishes, then the seller is not entitled to refuse to satisfy the requirements of the consumer only by referring to clause 6 of the List.

What about polymeric materials?

There are a wide variety of polymeric materials. There are both natural polymers (such as rubber) and synthetic ones. You can understand that polymeric materials are used in the composition by the name of the substances used. If the word begins with the prefix "poly-", then you have the same polymer. For example, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrenes, polyvinyl acetate, etc. All of them have the prefix “poly-” and refer to polymeric substances. However, basic knowledge of the chemical properties of certain materials is good, but reference to legal act still better.

Unfortunately, there is no normatively established list of polymeric materials. But at the same time, the list of polymeric materials is contained in the Table of sanitary and hygienic safety indicators and standards for substances released from packaging in contact with food products, approved by the Decision of the Customs Union Commission dated 16.08.2011. No. 769. The table includes:

1. Polymeric materials and plastics based on them;
2. Paraffins and waxes
3. Paper, cardboard, parchment, subparchment
4. Glass
5. Ceramics
6. Faience and porcelain

Glass, ceramics, faience and porcelain are included in this Table separately from polymeric materials, which allows one to reasonably conclude that these materials do not belong to polymeric substances. The Commission of the Customs Union singled them out into separate groups, without even combining them, which indicates completely different characteristics of these materials.

But we are interested in polymeric materials. In accordance with the Decision of the Commission of the Customs Union of 16.08.2011. No. 769 these include:

1. Polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE), polypropylene, propylene-ethylene copolymers, polybutylene, polyisobutylene, polyolefin composites
2. Polystyrene plastics: Block polystyrene, shock-resistant; Copolymer of styrene with acrylonitrile; ABS plastics (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastics); Copolymer of styrene with methyl methacrylate; Copolymer of styrene with methyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile; Copolymer of styrene with alpha-methylstyrene; Copolymers of styrene with butadiene; Expanded polystyrenes
3. Polyvinyl chloride plastics
4. Polymers based on vinyl acetate and its derivatives: polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, copolymer dispersion of vinyl acetate with dibutyl maleate
5. Polyacrylates
6. Polyorganosilaxanes (silicones)
7. Polyamides: Polyamide 6 (polycaproamide, capron); Polyamide 66 (polyhexamethylene adipamide, nylon); Polyamide 610 (polyhexamethylene sebacinamide)
8. Polyurethanes
9. Polyesters: Polyethylene oxide; Polypropylene oxide; Polytetra-methylene oxide; polyphenylene oxide; Polyethylene terephthalate and copolymers based on terephthalic acid; Polycarbonate; Polysulfone; polyphenylene sulfide; Polymers when used as a binder are used: Phenol-formaldehyde resins, organosilicon resins, Epoxy resins.
10. Fluoroplasts: Fluoroplast-3 Fluoroplast-4, teflon
11. Plastics based on phenol-formaldehyde resins (phenolic plastics)
12. polyformaldehyde
13. Aminoplasts (urea- and melamine-formaldehyde)
14. Polymer materials based on epoxy resins
15. Ionomeric resins, incl. serlin
16. Cellulose
17. Ether cellulose plastics (etrols)
18. Collagen (biopolymer)
19. Rubber and rubber-plastic materials (gaskets, can seals, canning lid seals, etc.)

If the above polymeric materials were used in the manufacture of dishes, then it will not be possible to return it to the seller.

Can glassware be returned to the store?

Glass is of both organic and mineral origin. Organic glass is a polymeric material. Mineral glass, which is most often used in the manufacture of dishes, does not apply to polymeric materials. For example, Luminarc tableware is made of tempered mineral glass. Such dishes can be returned to the store without any problems, provided that the buyer complies with the general conditions for the return of goods of good quality.

Can I return ceramic, porcelain and faience dishes back to the store?

As we have already found out, ceramics, porcelain and faience do not belong to polymeric materials. Therefore, the return of such dishes is possible and the seller is not entitled to refuse to return the money or exchange for another product, referring to clause 6 of the List.

Can I return pots and other stainless steel utensils to the store?

Stainless steel is not a polymer. Therefore, stainless steel utensils can also be returned to the seller, but subject to mandatory compliance by you common grounds return of goods of good quality.

Can I return the frying pan to the store?

But here everything is ambiguous. Modern frying pans are made using various materials. Therefore, it is quite logical that some new fashionable non-stick coating can be created on the basis of polymeric materials.

But we can definitely say for sure that Teflon pans cannot be returned or exchanged. Teflon is a polymer, and it is specified in the Decision of the Customs Union Commission dated 16.08.2011. No. 769 as a polymer material.

To understand if your frying pan uses polymer materials, we advise you to study the accompanying information for it or contact the manufacturer directly for additional clarification. If the pan is made without the use of polymeric materials, then it can be returned to the seller without any problems and demand a refund or exchange for another product.

How is the judicial practice on the return of dishes made of non-polymer materials?

In preparing this article, we analyzed many court decisions of both the courts of first instance and the courts of appeal and cassation. And we can only say one thing: everything is bad. Judges either can't read or have trouble interpreting the law literally.

For example, the Moscow City Court in the Appeal ruling dated 10.09.2015. in case No. 33-32517 / 2015, refused the buyer to satisfy the claims for the return of the set of dishes "INOXIA", referring to the fact that the specified set of dishes falls under clause 6 of the List. In addition, the court substantiated its position by the fact that the buyer had been warned that the INOXIA utensil set was a product in contact with food.

Did the Moscow City Court evaluate the set of dishes in terms of whether polymeric materials were used in its manufacture? Unfortunately no. The violated consumer rights have not been restored.

There are other court decisions when consumer rights are denied, but without reference to clause 6 of the List, although they ask to terminate the contract and return the money for the purchased dishes. But the refusal is made for the reason that consumers are guided by the wrong tactics of protecting their violated rights and themselves contribute to the fact that their requirements are subsequently denied. We will not evaluate such solutions in this article. This is a topic for a separate article.

Are there court decisions where courts take into account what the dishes are made of?

Yes, there are such solutions. For example, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation in its Resolution of December 30, 2015 N 309-AD15-16762 in case N A71-4624 / 2015 declared illegal the seller's refusal to satisfy the buyer's requirements for a refund for a Taller TR-1047 stainless steel cookware set. When referring to clause 6 of the List, the court took into account that utensils made of polymeric materials are not subject to return, and utensils made of stainless steel are not subject to the List.

Summing up the above, we would like to additionally note that the satisfaction of consumer requirements directly depends on how correctly the buyer exercises his rights in pre-trial order, as well as what method of protection will be used in court. If you do not know how to properly protect your rights, then contact our lawyers for preparation of a refund for purchased dishes of good quality, or for drafting consumer protection. We will be happy to help you!

Theoretical lesson No. 17.

Question 8. The investment process in Russia and its structural features

The study of the investment behavior of the main subjects of the Russian economy allows us to draw the following conclusions.

One of the trends of recent years is the continued intensive growth of investment in fixed assets (Chart 14.14).

However, the high intensity of the investment process masks a sharp increase in sectoral investment differentiation.

Structural features investment process appear as follows:

1. Investment spurt in the communications industry;

2. Accelerating the modernization of production in the primary industries;

3. Maintaining high dynamics of investments in housing;

4. Cessation of investment growth in manufacturing industries;

5. Reducing the role of corporate borrowing by foreign markets and replacing them own funds and bank loans.

Rice. 14.14. Investments in fixed assets

(billion rubles, in comparable 2003 prices)

Source: materials of the Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-term Forecasting.

Despite certain positive shifts in the investment process, a number of other catalysts for economic growth should be noted. So, Russia's GDP in the period 1999-2005. increased by an average of 6.7% annually, based on high oil prices, a "weak" ruble, growth in production and services. Stable economic growth in recent years was made possible primarily by high oil prices combined with structural reforms carried out by the Russian government in 2000-2001.

The growth of GDP has led to increased confidence of business circles and ordinary consumers in a more favorable economic future for Russia, as a result of which the inflow of foreign investment into the economy has significantly increased and the outflow of capital from the country has practically stopped.

Materials approved by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus for contact with food products are used.

Food utensils, equipment coating, containers are made from various materials: glass, metals, wood, paper, cardboard, clay, mineral raw materials, various polymeric materials.

Hygienic requirements for materials:

Should not contain in its composition harmful substances passing into food;

Should not adversely affect the biological value of the product, should not impair the organoleptic properties of products or prepared foods;

Must ensure the protection of food products from contamination from the environment;

Shall have a smooth, polished, non-porous interior surface.

Characteristics of the main materials:

Metal utensils. Metals are widely used for the manufacture of kitchen and tableware, pipelines in the food industry, cutlery, containers for transporting liquid products, washing baths, etc.

Stainless steel of some food grades has high anti-corrosion properties, resistance to aggressive environments of food products. Stainless steel products are durable and long lasting.

Aluminum utensils. Aluminum, duralumin and their alloys are used as a material for the manufacture of dishes. Aluminum and its compounds have low solubility in a liquid aggressive food environment. Aluminum utensils, especially those made of alloys, are exposed to common salt, some organic acids found in vegetables, fruits, and berries. At the same time, the protective film of aluminum oxides, which protects the dishes from corrosion, dissolves in the liquid content. In this regard, it is not recommended to ferment cabbage, pickle cucumbers, cook sour cabbage soup, etc. in aluminum utensils. To improve the anti-corrosion properties of aluminum utensils, modern processing methods are used - the inner surface is polished, polished, varnished, made matte silver, etc. From aluminum alloys produce foil, which is widely used in the confectionery industry; varnished foil is used for packaging cheeses. The composition of aluminum alloys includes impurities of some metals that can have a harmful effect on the human body, so the impurities used are strictly standardized (zinc, lead, arsenic, copper, iron).

Dishes made of iron and cast iron. Iron is a common material for the manufacture of cooking pots, containers, equipment, buckets, pans, baking sheets, enamelware. Iron is not stable, easily oxidized and forms compounds that dissolve in liquid food, causing a change in its color (darkening) and taste (metallic taste). Therefore, iron products must have protective coatings. Without coatings, only baking sheets and pans are used, on which food is cooked in the presence of fat (fat, covering the surface of iron, prevents the oxidizing action of oxygen). Coatings of enamel, tin (tinning), zinc (galvanized dishes) are used for iron utensils.

Enamelware. It is an iron dish, the outer and inner sides of which are covered with enamel - an alloy (like glass) of feldspar, soda, borax, sand, tin oxide. Strict requirements are imposed on the preparation of enamels, especially those intended for interior coatings, since in case of violation of the recipe, compounds that cause food poisoning (lead, antimony, etc.) can be used as components. Enamelware is not often used in catering and trade establishments, as it has poor impact resistance and heat resistance - with a sharp change in temperature and impact, cracks and chips form, exposing iron. Dishes with chips should not be used for cooking and storing food.

Ceramic tableware. Clay, glazed (pottery), faience, porcelain ware belong to ceramic ware.

Clay glazed dishes. Pottery is currently not widely used. They are made from clay fired in a kiln. Glaze is applied to the inner and outer sides of the dishes - an alloy of oxides of silicon, potassium, sodium and other metals, as well as lead oxide (litharge). A special grade of fritted glaze with a lead content of about 12% should be used for pottery coatings. The fritted glaze is highly durable and does not contain easily soluble lead compounds. At industrial enterprises manufacturing enamelware and pottery, local authorities The sanitary and epidemiological service must exercise strict control over the quality of enamels and glazes.

Faience and porcelain dishes. It is a clay product, slightly different in chemical composition and manufacturing technology. Outside and inside the products are covered with glaze. The glaze of earthenware products containing lead (to give shine) is not particularly durable. During the operation of products, a network of small cracks appears, chips are easily formed. The use of such utensils is not permitted.

Glassware. Glass is used to make glasses, wine glasses, jars, bottles and other products for food contact. The glass must be highly resistant to the acids contained in the products. There are special grades of heat-resistant glass that are used to make pots and pans used in everyday life. Glass of shock-resistant and acid-resistant grades is used for the manufacture of pipelines at dairies, wineries and other food industrial enterprises.

If the manufacturing technology is violated, air bubbles may appear in the thickness of the glass, which reduces the strength of the glass and increases the possibility of it getting into food products. If there are many bubbles, the dishes are rejected. If chips appear along the upper edge, glass products should be rejected. It is not allowed to use glassware made of glass with foreign inclusions, as they reduce the durability of products.

Wooden utensils, containers, equipment. Wood is widely used for making cutting boards, small implements (mixers, rolling pins), barrels, barrels, blocks for cutting meat and fish, etc. Wood does not adversely affect the quality of products, does not change their organoleptic and physical and chemical properties, does not corrode, does not give harmful substances into the food mass. However, wood is porous, absorbs liquid substances, and can be exposed to bacterial attack (mucus-forming bacteria, mold, etc.). In order to reduce or exclude the ability to absorb liquid substances, wood products are impregnated from the inside or coated with varnishes or resins approved for contact with food products. For the same purpose, wood products are lined from the inside with liners made of synthetic materials.

Wooden containers are used to store fermented and salted vegetables and mushrooms, salted fish and corned beef, tomato paste and other products.

Paper containers and packaging. Sheet paper is used as a packaging material for solid foods. Disposable paper utensils (waxed glasses for ice cream and sour cream, plates, etc.) are made from paper pulp impregnated with paraffin of permitted brands. High-grade paper (parchment and sub-parchment) is used for packaging fat-containing products - butter, cheese, herring, waffles, etc. This paper does not absorb moisture and fat, and prevents the products from drying out. Increasingly, paper is being used in combination with synthetic materials.

For drawing inscriptions and drawings on paper, paint is used that is approved for use by the State Sanitary Inspectorate. On the surface of the product, paints should not leave an imprint (cottage cheese) or give it an extraneous smell. The use of such paints should not be allowed. Also, the use of paints containing soluble toxic substances is not allowed.

Cardboard and corrugated cardboard are used for packing confectionery products. Cardboard and corrugated cardboard are used for packaging products with wrappers. To pack confectionery products without wrappers, cardboard boxes from the inside should be glued or lined with parchment or parchment. Currently, a combination of cardboard and synthetic materials is used.