It can be confusing to sort out which variety of plastics is safest for food and beverage storage. My hunch is that this is in part due to the fact that the toxicity of plastics is not well understood at this point in time. Until it is, here are some pointers for how to deal with plastics in your kitchen.

• Opt for glass, ceramic or other types of food preparation and storage containers if possible.

• Avoid microwaving or heating (even in the dishwasher!) plastic containers, as this is believed to increase the rate at which the plastic compounds leach out of the container.

• Avoid letting plastic wrap touch food in the microwave. Consider using wax paper or paper towels instead.

• 1,2,4, and 5: Plastic containers marked with these numbers do not contain phthalates (BPA) and are thought to be the safer plastics to use.

• 3,6, and 7: Avoid plastics with these numbers; they can contain PVC, phthalates, polystyrene and other polycarbonates. Exposure to these compounds is implicated in numerous adverse health effects.