King Saud Medical City revealed how to read and interpret the symbols on food packages, and ways to use these symbols to ensure the safety of the products inside those packages and their suitability for health.
The city stressed the need to know these symbols, the most important of which are:
The “cup and fork” symbol: It means that care must be taken to use plastic packaging intended for food containing this mark.
Number 1 in the middle of the arrow triangle: It means that the package is safe for one-time use only, and is not reused, as it is used in packages (water, juices, nutritional drinks, and some foodstuffs).
Number 4 in the middle of the arrow triangle: It means that the packaging is a relatively safe type for health, and it is used in plastic bags that are used for placing items and shopping, and some plastics for keeping frozen food, and it is easy to bend.
Microwave icon: It means the package is safe to use and microwave to heat up.
Symbol “Number 2 in the middle of the arrow triangle”: It means that the packaging is a type of plastic that is safe for human health, especially transparent ones, and it is used in milk packages and some juice packages.
5 symbol in the middle of the arrow triangle: It means that the packaging is the best and safest type for health, and it is used in food containers, especially for children, and is suitable for liquids and hot and cold foods.
Crossbones symbol: Means the packaging can be used for refrigeration or freezing.
Symbol “3 in the middle of the arrow triangle”: It means that the packaging is harmful and toxic if used for a long time, and it is used in some types of transparent plastic for packaging meat, cheese and some children’s toys, and caution must be taken against using it because it is a widely spread type due to its low price.
Number 6 in the middle of the arrow triangle: It means that the packaging is dangerous and unsafe and should be watched out for, and it is frequently used in fast food restaurants such as burger boxes or pizza boxes, and cups for hot drinks “cork-like”.
Number 7 in the middle of the arrow triangle: It means that this substance should be avoided as much as possible, unless it is mentioned that it is BPA-free, and is used in baby feeding, and you must make sure that the packaging is transparent and has the words (BPA- free bottle) written on it.
