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Recently, due to the hot weather, some consumers have noticed an odd taste when drinking beverages in plastic bottles. A beverage distributor said that the change in flavor was due to the beverages in plastic packaging being exposed to the sun. Some believe this is related to a label on plastic bottles: within a triangle made up of three arrows, there are numbers from 1 to 7, with higher numbers indicating that the bottle can withstand higher temperatures. Ma Zhanfeng, secretary-general of the China Plastics Processing Industry Association, said that the triangle formed by three arrows represents “recyclability and reuse”. The numbers inside represent different materials; if the product is made from several different materials, the one indicated is the main material of the product. These numbers do not directly indicate the heat resistance of plastic bottles, but by knowing what material each number represents, consumers can use plastic products in a more scientific manner: 1 stands for PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and bottles for ordinary mineral water, carbonated drinks, and functional beverages are typically made from this material. High temperatures can cause deformation, and it is possible for substances harmful to the human body to leach out. In hot weather, do not leave mineral water in outdoor areas or in the car, and also avoid pouring boiling water directly into Coke bottles ； 2 represents HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene); the plastic bags that were widely used in supermarkets and shopping malls in the past are made of this material. It is resistant to high temperatures, but it is not easy to clean and tends to breed bacteria ； 3 stands for PVC (polyvinyl chloride); the plasticizers used in it contain harmful substances that tend to leach out when exposed to high temperatures or oils. At present, many of these plasticizers are banned from use in Europe, and they are less commonly used in plastic products used for packaging food in our country ； 4 represents LDPE (low-density polyethylene); most plastic wrap and other films available on the market are made from this material. It does not have strong heat resistance – qualified PE plastic wrap will begin to melt when exposed to temperatures above 110°C. When using such plastic wrap to cover food while heating it, the fats in the food can easily dissolve the harmful substances contained in the plastic wrap ； 5 stands for PP (polypropylene); microwave-safe food containers are made from this material, which can withstand temperatures of up to 130°C. They have poor transparency. In some cases, the body of the container is made of PP, while the lid is made of PS (polystyrene). PS has good transparency but cannot withstand high temperatures, so it cannot be placed in the microwave together with the container body ； 6 stands for PS (polystyrene), a material used in manufacturing bowl-shaped instant noodle containers and foam-based fast-food packaging. It is resistant to heat and cold, but it cannot be used in microwave ovens; try to avoid using such packaging to store hot food ； 7 represents other categories of plastics used for making baby bottles, insulated cups, etc.; it is also best not to use them for holding boiling water.