It concerns me and although I've not researched it, it is one of several reasons I don't SV often. I typically use my foodsaver bags, and have wondered if they are any different from the ones specifically marketed for SV. I contacted either Hefty or Ziploc a while back to ask if their bags are safe for SV and got an ambiguous response. They said the bags are safe for all temperatures up to boiling, but are not intended for SV. When pressed, they remained seemingly deliberately vague.

Thanks, FOAS. Yes, the ambiguity would concern me, too.

According to global statistic, the more plastic people use, the longer the life span/expectancy has become..

I use boilable SV bags.

dcarch

haha. I understand the concern. I have researched and their is no definitive answer to all 'food safe' plastics. Food safe plastics are made at a very high temp. Sous vide is low temp not anywhere near boiling.

I'm more concerned with processed microwavable food itself with all the ingested chemicals, over the bag it is sold in. The container itself with all that very hot heat. The cereals are a concern over the bag they are sold in. The lining in a microwavable popcorn sack and the chemical tasting powdered cheese. But i don't buy any of that.

Water bottles, soda cans, any canned food. None of that in my diet. No processed foods. No fast food. (exception is ShakeShack) : )

The other exception is sous vide once twice a month. We still prefer my steak method in a cast iron that was perfect long ago. But other proteins like skirt steak for a new-this-year Korean noodle bowl. Or Pho. Killer pork chops. Sous vide has opened up some better and easier meals. A nice tool that assists complicated many ingredient meals. That new car smell...talk about off-gassing.

Plan on testing some ball jar methods. I have some wide but low 2inch high ones. Just need bit more cooking time.

Darn, dcarch, I was all excited by your last paragraph, but it seems to be suitable only for a pretty limited range of foods. :-(

There are plastics which are known not to break down as easily with reuse, as well as those that are known to be stable at the kind of heats used in cooking. There are always risks and there are always unknowns. I'd be more hesitant if I were feeding pregnant/nursing moms, or even going to be ones, or babies and tots, sous vide regularly.

While Foodsaver bags seem fine for freezing, I use Sous Vide Supreme bags for sous vide. "free of BPA, lead and phthalates, high temperature tolerance". Nothing is guaranteed. I don't want to tell you what I breathe on a daily basis. Some of the most beautiful, unspoiled-looking territory in the country is the most dangerously polluted. So one does one's best to avoid known dangers, and practices moderation.

But then I also have many pots that are red or orange on the outside. I don't see heavy metals getting into the food easily from them, and they're pretty! But they're not the most neutral choice...

Interesting - Foodsaver doesn't seem to specifically address SV on their site, but they do say to never cook raw food in their bags. Maybe I should switch brands?

Yes. That's why I got the SVS rolls. Some plastics are completely inert and food safe at normal daily temperatures, but break down with heat. Sous vide isn't done at high heat, but it's still well above what you'd expect inside your house. The SVS cost something like double, which, I'm sure, must be the reason that Foodsaver uses a lesser material. I like the texture of the Foodsaver bags for freezing, however. It's easier to use.