The other thing…those lids don’t really seal very well. But hey, if you folks use them, that’s fine.
Interesting. Is there some proof of contamination? Honestly, for me family
Members, work people, neighbors - lots of people use them - even if just for their own households.
I always remove all the plastic film on top and don’t use them over and over and over for months - never had food poisoning yet!
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@BunsenBurner what do you think about re-using cottage cheese, etc containers.
Any possibility of a link to this?
We rarely reuse them for food since we have our glass containers. We switched to glass due to plastic contamination (microplastics et al), not due to any disinfectant issues. I’ve seen a lot in print about plastics/food.
We, personally, reuse them for storing other things or feed containers for chickens/ponies. FIL reuses them over and over for food, but at 94, he’s not changing or likely to be considerably hurt by it.
I agree fully with this, but what we learned growing up often sets our standard for what we do. My grandparents living through the Depression years definitely taught me never to waste anything. FIL is the same way. Reading studies about plastics is what switched me to glass and just reusing the containers for other things. 
No link…but it is my opinion that if an item can’t take a boiling water bath, it should not be reused for food.
Using these to store extra screws or nails? Fine. I just wouldn’t use them for food.
Having said that, my MIL stores everything in these types of containers and she is 90. So…maybe it’s a good thing🙄
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As a chemist, I would never put a reagent into a container that is permanently labeled with another reagent’s chemical name. Same rule in my house: if it is a clear, unlabeled container like the one from takeout or deli items, I occasionally wash it in the dishwasher and save to pack leftover food for the kids to take home after they visit. I do not save sour cream etc. containers because they are not transparent and have permanent labels and flimsy lids. Plus, I hate clutter - both in the cupboards and in the fridge. If I put leftover food in the fridge, I want to be able to see what’s inside the box without opening it.
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Most containers from sour cream etc. can be safely washed with dish soap or in a dishwasher. That would be sufficient.
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Thank you. We just toss these. For sending home leftovers, we just buy any shape ziploc containers they make.
I believe there are certain types of plastic that should not be reused - certain #’s. And obviously some containers don’t survive a dishwasher hot cleaning. But that cottage cheese container….it did house my cottage cheese I ate! Or yogurt……
If the plastic starts to disintegrate in anyway - then of course no. Did the container at one time contain moldy product - then no, not reusing.
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Another awesome pro to using glass IME.
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Yep, all of those went into the garage or recycle bin.
I used the round margarine containers to put therapy materials into: pre-cut shapes, beads, rubber bands, paper clips, craft-eyes, feathers, pom-poms, painted macaroni, painted beans, etc.
I also didn’t get a really tight seal on sour cream/cottage cheese containers, so those were always “give-away” items to put “hungry caterpillar”/"Go Away Big Ugly Monster pieces.
I always bought Ziploc containers/target brand for food items.
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I think the seal on my cottage cheese containers is as good (maybe better) than the plastic lids on my glass pyrex containers. But I prefer glass and the see-through convenience for home fridge. I keep the other miscellaneous tubs for extras at holidays, especially give-away food. But I do understand those who prefer to not have plastic touching their food.
My favorite are the well sealed tubs from Thai restaurant leftovers. They are also the perfect size for shredded zuc in freezer for zucchini bread recipe - really handy when I am shredding a jumbo zuc!
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