Yikes! Stored food in road salt buckets!

[chitchat]

I just realized I put some mylar packed foods in some buckets that were once used as containers for road salt (calcium chloride).

Obviously, the buckets are not food-grade.

If the food has been tainted, then we've lost some work and money. Is there a way to tell if the food has been ill-affected or not? (Other than by tasting it and possibly getting sick?)

I used just regular mylar bags - not the foil type.

Edited December 3, 2008 by chitchat

[rameumptom]

Do you or your neighbor have a cat you are no longer using that can do a taste test for you?

Just don't sacrifice your dog or other important pet....

[rameumptom]

I also don't recommend putting food storage in 5 gallon pickle buckets, either.

Dehydrated Milk is never the same!

We use either new buckets, or get buckets from the store deli that had frosting in them.

[Yukon_Mike]

I just realized I put some mylar packed foods in some buckets that were once used as containers for road salt (calcium chloride).

Obviously, the buckets are not food-grade.

If the food has been tainted, then we've lost some work and money. Is there a way to tell if the food has been ill-affected or not? (Other than by tasting it and possibly getting sick?)

I used just regular mylar bags - not the foil type.

What kind of food did you store in the buckets?

I would think that, if the food in the buckets has only been there a few weeks it probably is OK. I would open the bags and put the food and absorbers into new Mylar bags and seal.

Also note, that only Mylar with the aluminum film is a barrier against long term O2 intrusion.

[hankpac]

if you put SEALED mylar bags in there, NO problem.

Just put them (the sealed mylar bags) into new buckets. If you put an opened bag back into it, I would probably toss that particular one.

[chitchat]

Thanks for the good replies.

I'm thinking that since there is no way to test the food to make sure it's okay, that I'm just going to have to throw it out. I am heartsick.

If the bags had been foil lined I would feel more at ease, but they are just regular clear mylar. What a total waste.

We rinsed the buckets out even though we saw on trace of road salt in them.

But I've heard that some chemical in the plastic of buckets that are not food-grade can leach through the mylar bag into the food.

Maybe this thread will help someone else I hope. I feel sad.

Edited December 8, 2008 by chitchat

[hankpac]

I sincerely doubt that there is contamination IF your bags were vacuum sealed before storing.

Where are you located? Check with the manufacturer of the salt product and find out what is in their salt.

You should look at a plant where flour is ground, or a silo where whole grain is stored. Pretty dirty. Scooped up by tractors, carried in trucks, birds crap on it, etc.

The buckets may not be food grade, and you might not sprinkle the salt on your fries, but if there is nothing toxic in the product, stop worrying. The mylar is pretty stout stuff.

Look. You haven't lost anything by just letting this stuff sit there until you CHECK everything.

Contact the company that makes the mylar and ask about leaching. Check the contents of the salt (msds) and ask the company itself. Take a little trouble to see if you can prevent throwing all of this out. Don't be precipitous.

You did in fact vacuum and seal these bags, right?

[chitchat]

You're giving me encouragement which I appreciate.

I put 2-3 clear mylar bags in a bucket. The mylar bags contain grains and beans.

I put an oxygen absorber in each bag and sealed with an iron.

I'll check further before throwing anything out then. Thanks. :)