Is Bacterial Growth or Contamination a Concern when Reusing PET Bottles?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PET safe for reuse?

PET has been approved for use by the US FDA and the European Union in food and beverage packaging.  Testing includes extraction which simulates long term use to assure that there is a minimal amount of transfer between the package and its contents and that it does not pose a risk to humans.

Does reuse of PET bottles lead to problems of harmful bacteria?

No more than any other type of container, e.g., those made of glass, metal, ceramic, or other plastics. Bottles should be properly cleaned using soap and hot water and then dried thoroughly after each use.   Once the bottles become scratched they are harder to sanitize since bacteria can become lodged in the scratches.  Re-use of damaged bottles should be discontinued and bottles sent to a recycler.

What about the study done at the elementary School in Calgary?

This study found bacteria in some water bottle samples taken from an elementary class.  It concluded though that the source of the bacteria was due to poor personal hygiene by the elementary students and not the plastic bottles themselves.