AboutCarol Schlitt Expertise I can answer questions on home food safety, sanitation, home food preservation and commercial food safety (HACCP).
Experience I am an Extension educator, nutrition, wellness and food safety. I am a certified HACCP manager and a food safety instructor for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Organizations International Association for Food Protection, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Certified CFCS), National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Society for Nutrition Education.
Education/Credentials BS - University of Illinois
MS - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
This is a "follow up" question from a previous question... I didn't know how to find you again so I chose this option.
The subject is different but it is still on food safety.
I have a stainless steel electric kettle that heats water.
I was told to let it soak in vinger in order to get rid of the mineral build up.
But I went a step further, foolishly, and boiled the vinger in the tea kettle. I put a full bottle of vinegar in the tea kettle and then mixed in some water too. Then boiled it up and an odd thing happened... The water rose to the top and over flowed out the tiny opening. Anyways, torwards the top there are some pieces made out of plastic.
I am concerned that because the boiling vinegar made contact with the plastic parts maybe it has changed the plastic make up and degraded it to some extent and now it is leaching toxic things into my kettle when I use it. Or, that the boiling vinegar fumes negatively effected the plastic in the tea kettle.
I boiled vinegar a few times, though this was the first time it bubbled up like it did.
Ultimately I just want to know if you are under the opinon that by boiling the vinegar in the kettle and having it get in contact with the plastic part of the kettle (torwards the top) that it is now no longer safe to use becuase vinegar has some degree of acidity in it and at high temperatures (boiling) could alter the plastic make up and turn it unsafe to where it will start leaching toxic chemicals.
Thank you so much.
Sincerely,
Ryan
Answer Hi Ryan,
Can't say I've ever had this question before snad really don't know the answer.
I suugest you contact the Vinegar Institute. Here's the contact information:
Address:
5775 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road
Building G, Suite 500
Atlanta , GA 30342
