Confusion on Food Grade Buckets

[hagbard]

How much dry food like wheat, rice and oats should I be buying for a family of four plus uninvited guests?

[runtothehills]

You might wanna start a new thread under (The Basics) you might get more responses. Just saying. I buy, what I can afford and wish it was much more. Do whatever you can, it's better than nothing.

[1Admin]

I have a $30. gift certificate for our sponsor-

https://www.jrhenterprises.com

to the first person to post a PICTURE on a bucket that has IMPRINTED ON THE BUCKET FROM THE FACTORY- "FOOD GRADE."

NOT some hokey label YOU made up or the retailer you bought it from made up. IMPRINTED, i.e, in the plastic from the manufacturer i.e, Ropak, etc.

$30.00 REWARD ON THIS.

I've looked at the "more than a few" buckets we have available and at every store I go to, have NEVER seen this.

[610Alpha]

Oh snap!! I am on it dog on it!! Got some buckets I will be checking tonight. :) Thanks for the wanted poster...lol

[protus]

i have a symbol.


but it aint on a bucket ......

I will get a pic of it. But honestly, it is the ONLY marking i have food that would mean "food safe".
All my buckets used and new have no such symbols.

[miked2345]

Does "USDA" count??

[protus]

i qoute this from a "plastics company"

HDPE has been approved of as a product for food packaging by various institutions, including the FDA, NSF and USDA. Nowadays HDPE is used in a wide range of applications and products. From detergent bottles to milk jugs, and from the laboratory to household chemicals, HDPE products are used every where.

again-commonsense dont use a bucket that held a degreaser to hold your rice LOL But then again we see folks talking about using hand warmers, drywall dust,bay leaves and majic potions they got from the fairy godmother to store their food and all of that is ok....lol

the symbol i have seen but NOT ON ANY BUCKET but a water bootle CAP, not even the bottle it's self. Is the cup and fork one shown here.



as to dyes and mold releases.
We also see people cry these two things about buckets....
The mold release while FDA approved to be used in the production of said "food grade" buckets isnt exactly stuff you would want to smear on bread and eat!The same with dyes.

It is a pretty simple concept , use clean or new buckets with mylar all is good.
IMHO it seems that if folks can find a way not to pack or a reason to doubt something they will use that argument all day
( like the i dont hvac in my garage so i cant store food argument) or the i have a truck why would i need to backpack with my BOB....

[Grinnan Barrett]

One thing to watch out for is anyone with a NEW product that claims to have had it USDA approved. USDA no longer approves products. they haven't in over a decade. If the approval predates that it is valid. there are now a set of guidelines that must be met by each product. the guidelines are supposed to be listed on the USDA website. It can be very daunting to try and determine food grade. The 2 in the triangle is a code for recycling.

[a1bigtuna]

I am new to this forum, but belong to several others and have a question concerning the sealing of buckets. With mylar bags with O2 absorbers what is the best way to seal the bucket? And how about water jugs (5 gal from Walmart)? I have a funny feeling about just pounding the lid on a bakery bucket. I have those lids with a gasket and turn/screw center opening tops for my reloading primers and powders. But, did not use O2 absorbers in those buckets as I open them occasionally.

[1Admin]

Gamma seals- the turn screw types your referring to, are not necessary for storage. A lot of folks feel the need to have them on every bucket or even 1 out of every 4, etc.

Waste of money IMO.

If the rubber gasket is in place, what's the problem you see with "pounding the lid on?"

You could silicon caulk around the seal on the OUTSIDE of the bucket if you so desired. I did that with the first 300 lbs. I put up in 87 and 88.

[a1bigtuna]

Thanks, I just bought a couple of buckets from the local donut shop and have cleaned them using hot water and then soaking in fresh bleach and water. There are not any rubber seals on the lids of these buckets (they are fruit filling buckets). Is there a particular silicon sealant that is preferred? There are many on the market, and some are not waterproof, in spite of them being silicon (solar/photo cell manufacturing has issues here). Thanks.

[1Admin]

Are you planning on burying them?

[a1bigtuna]

No, storing them in a closet, or under the house on concrete on rubber mats. Weather is no colder than 50 F and not hotter than 95 F anytime (San Diego, by ocean).

[1Admin]

The heat isn't the problem some people have made it out to be. We proved that showing 17 year old food that was stored in high heat/high humidity environments that ended up fine.

If your sealing your mylars well and their isn't really a chance of the bucket getting submerged, you ought to be fine without the gasket ring on the bucket lids. If your still concerned a bead of silicon caulk on the outside where the lid meets the bucket.

[a1bigtuna]

Thanks, was a little concerned about the possible differences in silicon seal would be. So, even in an attic (here in San Diego) which temps can get to be say 110 would not really affect properly stored mylar foods for say up to 5 or 6 years? Thanks again for your input.