On Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:07:22 -0700, Pls_reply_to_group wrote:

On Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:11:41 -0500, B. Server wrote:

On Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:33:46 GMT, wrote:

I was thinking of useing old film containers to store seeds for next year but someone said that these containers are full of chemicals and aren't safe for seeds. Does anyone use these, or has any knowledge in regards to the safety of using film containers to store seeds in?TIZ


I like to use film containers because they are air tight and, if
packed in low hunidity, will keep the seeds dry. They do take up more
space than ziplocks, but most ziplocks are not gas tight and difuse
water vapor and CO2.

A few years ago there was a letter in Cook's Illustrated which recommended using
film canisters to pack condiments for picnicking. In the next issue they
printed a note retracting that suggestion because film canisters are not made of
food-grade plastic and therefore could leech nasty stuff. Whether that would
affect seeds I don't know.

Could be. I doubt it. The containers are intended to contain
unexposed film and consequently, I would bet that they are designed to
outgas very little under any circumstance in which you would want a
live seed to be stored. If you leave them on the dashboard of your
car parked in Phoenix in August, the outgassing will be the least of
the problems.

Cook's Illustrated is basically saying that it is not a good idea to
store food that you will eat in containers not intended for food.

My experience has been that they are a lot "safer" for seeds (not
food) than leaving them in ziplock bags; most of which are not gas
tight.

YMMV

--BS