A mother was about to make her daughter drink from a given cup when something stopped her and she said Newsweek how her discovery made her think hard about her family’s use of plastics.

Veronica from Canada thought nothing of making her four-year-old something to drink in the new pink unicorn and rainbow themed cup.

However, a message written on the bottom of the glass and translated into French gave him pause for thought. It said: “For decorative use only, not suitable for food or drink.”

Veronica, who chose not to provide her full name, said Newsweek: “I only noticed it when I was cleaning it before using it for the first time.”

The warning initially left her confused. “My first thought was, ‘Why even make a cup if you can’t drink from it?'” she said. “I think my daughter could use it to pretend?

In the end, he’s glad he saw the warning when he did.

“I wash things before I use them, so luckily I haven’t given it to my daughter yet. I have no idea how dangerous it could be,” she said. “But my daughter is only 4, so I’m glad I didn’t let her drink in it!”

Plastic cups and containers are used by millions of people every day to carry and contain a variety of food and beverages.

However, studies have shown potential danger the chemicals present in these plastics could affect our health.

According to Harvard Medical School, tests have shown that some of the substances used to make these plastic products have, under certain conditions, the potential to “leach” or “migrate” into the food and beverages they contain.

In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating plastic packaging and has established a set of regulations that prevent manufacturers from using plastics that have the potential to release harmful levels of chemicals into the food and beverages they contain.

In Canada, the Canadian Food Directorate’s Bureau of Chemical Safety and Health has published a list of 13 polymers acceptable for use in food packaging applications.

Vineet Dubey is an environmental litigator and co-founding partner of Custodio & Dubey LLP. He initiated litigation against a wide range of companies accused of endangering the health and welfare of his customers by selling products containing toxic chemicals.

When Newsweek shared footage of the warning Veronica found with Dubey, he agreed that the warning was “absolutely cause for concern.” He said the cup likely fell on one of two issues, or potentially both.

“Generally, this warning indicates that a product is not ‘food grade’ and may leach chemicals into food or beverages, especially if they are hot. The warning may also appear on containers that have seams that can trap food particles and make them difficult to clean. , making them unhygienic,” he said Newsweek.

Dubey was keen to point out that these types of warnings are not limited to plastics, however. “Some glazes used to make ceramics can contain lead, so you will often see the same warning on ceramics as they can leach the toxic metal into food – especially harmful to children. It’s there so someone doesn’t accidentally use a flower. vase like a drinking glass, for example,” he said.

Dubey urged Veronica to “get rid of the cup”. He said: “There are millions of plastic cups that don’t have this warning and are cheap and plentiful,” he said. “Under such circumstances, why take a chance?”

Veronica does not know who made the cup. “It was a gift and I didn’t ask for it, so I have no idea where it’s from,” she said. “It was probably in a unicorn-themed display with a mix of random items, and the person who bought it for us saw the cute designs and didn’t check the bottom of the glass.”

She doesn’t plan to throw it away just yet, but the warning has made her think more closely about her family’s use of plastics.

“I kept the mug. I might throw away the lid and straw and use the cup part for pencils or hairbrushes in my daughter’s room,” she said. “I never really thought about plastic toys and stuff, but it made me think about where the things my kids eat come from, what they put in their mouths, etc. and what toxic substances they may contain.”