How can you tell which brute cans are food safe?

ZoaFan08 · 10/22/2008, 08:00 PM

Bought some today and on the bottom it said 'Food; White, Yellow, Grey' and I bought a grey one..

Logzor · 10/22/2008, 08:13 PM

I am sure all of the brutes available at stores are food safe. In fact it is probably more safe than the plastics we eat and drink from!

Flipper62 · 10/22/2008, 08:15 PM

There is a symbol on the bottom of the container that will tell you if its food safe....I'm not sure of the symbol....but here is a link to all of the plastics, Food Safe...or NOT

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/pl...html#foodgrade

ZoaFan08 · 10/22/2008, 08:19 PM

Mine have a 4..

LDPE (low density polyethylene) offers clarity and flexibility. It is used to make bottles that require flexibility. To take advantage of its strength and toughness in film form, it is used to produce grocery bags and garbage bags, shrink and stretch film, and coating for milk cartons.

sminker · 10/22/2008, 11:51 PM

as long as the can is labeled "Rubbermaid Brute" then you are good to go. There is only one Brute trashcan. they come in different colors but are all made out of the same material.

will16 · 10/23/2008, 07:48 AM

The different colors do mean different things. I saw this somewhere the other day. Can't find it now. I think it was the blue and one other color that was not food grade. Think it was red? Grey is safe

Tswifty · 10/23/2008, 07:56 AM

HDPE (2) and LDPE (4) are the food safe ones I know of.

Here's a nice chart I found.

http://www.ides.com/resources/plasti...ling-codes.asp

AZDesertRat · 10/23/2008, 07:59 AM

For something to be recognized as "food safe" in the US it must meet one of the following standards depending on its intended use.
http://www.nsf.org/business/search_listings/

In our case usually its NSF/ANSI Std 61, Drinking Water Components.

ZoaFan08 · 10/23/2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sminker
as long as the can is labeled "Rubbermaid Brute" then you are good to go. There is only one Brute trashcan. they come in different colors but are all made out of the same material.

Wrong, the Rubbermaid Brute green trascans are NOT food safe, the color will leach into the water.

brynkal · 10/23/2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZoaFan08
Wrong, the Rubbermaid Brute green trascans are NOT food safe, the color will leach into the water.

Do you know this from experience, or did you read it somewhere? We bought the green one, I haven't noticed any color leaching, but would sure like to know if it's likely!

ZoaFan08 · 10/23/2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by brynkal
Do you know this from experience, or did you read it somewhere? We bought the green one, I haven't noticed any color leaching, but would sure like to know if it's likely!

On the bottom of my can it says which color are food safe and not food safe. Under food safe it list 3-4 colors, and under not food safe it listed 'all other colors'. Green was not listed under food safe. I asked the Home Depot guy and he said green and one other color were not food safe because of leaching, he looked it up.

sminker · 10/23/2008, 12:03 PM

i would like to see water tests.

i bet you wouldnt see any increase in TDS readings between either color.

AZDesertRat · 10/23/2008, 12:18 PM

You might be surprised. Even color changing DI resins register higher TDS than non color changing due to the slight amount of dyes in them. DI water is extremely agressive and will pull things out you would not believe.

brynkal · 10/23/2008, 03:57 PM

Well, I sent an email to Rubbermaid:

On your website, in the description for the 32-gallon Brute container, it states "All colors are NSF/USDA Approved for food contact and NSF tested/certified."

But, we have heard that only the white, gray, and yellow containers are foodsafe. We are using a green 32-gallon Brute for storing/mixing our synthetic saltwater for our reef tank, and have been told by other reef keepers that the green is definitely not foodsafe. PLEASE let us know, whether safe or not!

and they replied:

I looked into your question and it looks like you are correct.

Gray, White and Yellow are USDA Meat & Poultry Equipment Group Listed and assist in complying with HACCP guidelines.
Certified to NSF Standard #2 (gray, white and yellow) and Standard #21 (gray, white, yellow, blue, red and black).

We will have to look at our web site and see if we have to make those changes.

So, green is out (at least for Brute containers and reef tanks)!

golfish · 10/23/2008, 07:10 PM

Zoa, I have 2 x 60 gal drums sitting in the back of my truck. Its amazing how many people flake out on picking up almost free stuff.. These are food safe, they just need a good baking soda soak. your more then welcome to em...free for locals

I'm around 19th and Hermosa. PM me for info

ZoaFan08 · 10/24/2008, 12:22 AM

Sorry to hear about that brynkal but at least you were able to figure that out before something bad happened.

Nuuze · 10/24/2008, 12:37 AM

Really? I thought they were. Until now...

ZoaFan08 · 10/24/2008, 12:47 AM

Not sure what you are trying to show in the pics... Maybe its just late but can we get some info?

Nuuze · 10/24/2008, 12:53 AM

I meant, I thought all the Brutes were safe. Bottom pic in the corner has the NSF rating stamp.

ZoaFan08 · 10/24/2008, 12:57 AM

Ahh ok

. I spent 5 minutes looking at picture expecting to find something wrong lol.

inetmug · 05/05/2014, 08:17 PM

Ok, I got grey ones. I did something right for a change....

dukduk · 05/05/2014, 08:21 PM

All the ones I've seen in restaurants are white (like at Panera bread behind the deli area) but I bought the gray ones anyways.

duraace9sp · 06/18/2015, 09:08 PM

I bought the allegedly food safe drinking/rain water tank from tanksdirect .com. I started to see problems, then I went vacation and the person caring over fed. Trying to salvage the ammonia etc from over feeding I did day after day water changes not aware of the issue with the green allegedly food safe storage tank......it killed my entire tank. I was testing ammonia nitrates phosphates constantly checking the phosphate in the storage tank and only after it wa done did I figure it out. Noteworthy was each time I even did a small 3-5 gallon water change the skimmer went crazy overflowing. Lost more than 50 pieces of coral that were wonderful...softies blasts lps, sps as well as couple wrasse.......I'm devestated and the couple survivors and tank are not yet recovered........

10/22/2008, 08:00 PM	#1
ZoaFan08 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Alta Loma CA Posts: 1,211	How can you tell which brute cans are food safe? Bought some today and on the bottom it said 'Food; White, Yellow, Grey' and I bought a grey one..

10/22/2008, 08:15 PM	#3
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	There is a symbol on the bottom of the container that will tell you if its food safe....I'm not sure of the symbol....but here is a link to all of the plastics, Food Safe...or NOT http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/pl...html#foodgrade __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

10/23/2008, 07:56 AM	#7
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	HDPE (2) and LDPE (4) are the food safe ones I know of. Here's a nice chart I found. http://www.ides.com/resources/plasti...ling-codes.asp __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

10/23/2008, 07:10 PM	#15
golfish Team RC Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Alta Loma, Ca Posts: 6,776	Zoa, I have 2 x 60 gal drums sitting in the back of my truck. Its amazing how many people flake out on picking up almost free stuff.. These are food safe, they just need a good baking soda soak. your more then welcome to em...free for locals I'm around 19th and Hermosa. PM me for info __________________ grow em, frag em, trade em... Current Tank Info: TOTM curse

10/22/2008, 08:13 PM	#2
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	I am sure all of the brutes available at stores are food safe. In fact it is probably more safe than the plastics we eat and drink from!

10/22/2008, 08:19 PM	#4
ZoaFan08 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Alta Loma CA Posts: 1,211	Mine have a 4.. LDPE (low density polyethylene) offers clarity and flexibility. It is used to make bottles that require flexibility. To take advantage of its strength and toughness in film form, it is used to produce grocery bags and garbage bags, shrink and stretch film, and coating for milk cartons.

10/22/2008, 11:51 PM	#5
sminker Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 612	as long as the can is labeled "Rubbermaid Brute" then you are good to go. There is only one Brute trashcan. they come in different colors but are all made out of the same material.

10/23/2008, 07:48 AM	#6
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	The different colors do mean different things. I saw this somewhere the other day. Can't find it now. I think it was the blue and one other color that was not food grade. Think it was red? Grey is safe

10/23/2008, 07:59 AM	#8
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	For something to be recognized as "food safe" in the US it must meet one of the following standards depending on its intended use. http://www.nsf.org/business/search_listings/ In our case usually its NSF/ANSI Std 61, Drinking Water Components.

10/23/2008, 12:03 PM	#12
sminker Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 612	i would like to see water tests. i bet you wouldnt see any increase in TDS readings between either color.

10/23/2008, 12:18 PM	#13
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	You might be surprised. Even color changing DI resins register higher TDS than non color changing due to the slight amount of dyes in them. DI water is extremely agressive and will pull things out you would not believe.

10/23/2008, 03:57 PM	#14
brynkal Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 549	Well, I sent an email to Rubbermaid: On your website, in the description for the 32-gallon Brute container, it states "All colors are NSF/USDA Approved for food contact and NSF tested/certified." But, we have heard that only the white, gray, and yellow containers are foodsafe. We are using a green 32-gallon Brute for storing/mixing our synthetic saltwater for our reef tank, and have been told by other reef keepers that the green is definitely not foodsafe. PLEASE let us know, whether safe or not! and they replied: I looked into your question and it looks like you are correct. Gray, White and Yellow are USDA Meat & Poultry Equipment Group Listed and assist in complying with HACCP guidelines. Certified to NSF Standard #2 (gray, white and yellow) and Standard #21 (gray, white, yellow, blue, red and black). We will have to look at our web site and see if we have to make those changes. So, green is out (at least for Brute containers and reef tanks)!

10/24/2008, 12:22 AM	#16
ZoaFan08 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Alta Loma CA Posts: 1,211	Sorry to hear about that brynkal but at least you were able to figure that out before something bad happened.

10/24/2008, 12:37 AM	#17
Nuuze Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NorCal, California Posts: 3,550	Really? I thought they were. Until now...

10/24/2008, 12:47 AM	#18
ZoaFan08 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Alta Loma CA Posts: 1,211	Not sure what you are trying to show in the pics... Maybe its just late but can we get some info?

10/24/2008, 12:53 AM	#19
Nuuze Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NorCal, California Posts: 3,550	I meant, I thought all the Brutes were safe. Bottom pic in the corner has the NSF rating stamp.

10/24/2008, 12:57 AM	#20
ZoaFan08 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Alta Loma CA Posts: 1,211	Ahh ok . I spent 5 minutes looking at picture expecting to find something wrong lol.

05/05/2014, 08:17 PM	#21
inetmug Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 693	Ok, I got grey ones. I did something right for a change....

05/05/2014, 08:21 PM	#22
dukduk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Nebraska but from Guam Posts: 295	All the ones I've seen in restaurants are white (like at Panera bread behind the deli area) but I bought the gray ones anyways.

06/18/2015, 09:08 PM	#23
duraace9sp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: California Posts: 61	I bought the allegedly food safe drinking/rain water tank from tanksdirect .com. I started to see problems, then I went vacation and the person caring over fed. Trying to salvage the ammonia etc from over feeding I did day after day water changes not aware of the issue with the green allegedly food safe storage tank......it killed my entire tank. I was testing ammonia nitrates phosphates constantly checking the phosphate in the storage tank and only after it wa done did I figure it out. Noteworthy was each time I even did a small 3-5 gallon water change the skimmer went crazy overflowing. Lost more than 50 pieces of coral that were wonderful...softies blasts lps, sps as well as couple wrasse.......I'm devestated and the couple survivors and tank are not yet recovered........