Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

Radio 4,21 May 2026,32 mins

Food Containers

Sliced Bread

Available for over a year

Is it ok to store food in plastic containers? That's the question put by listener Joe Tattersall in this, the last episode in the current series of 'Sliced Bread'. Joe's noticed scuffs and abrasions on his reusable plastic containers and is concerned about whether that increases the risk of 'chemical leaching' into his food, or ingesting microplastics. He's keen to know if alternatives like glass, silicon, or metal containers could better for our health, as well as for the planet. And what about putting them in the microwave to heat food, using them to freeze food after batch-cooking, or putting them in the dishwasher to clean? To find out more, presenter Greg Foot is joined by Dr Stephanie Wright, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Toxicology at Imperial College London; and Jane Muncke, Managing Director and Chief Scientific Officer at the Food Packaging Forum. We're taking a break to prepare another batch of Sliced Bread but we're as hungry as ever for your suggestions of wonder products to investigate. Please do send your ideas to us either on email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807. RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

Programme Website
More episodes