Most parents would rejoice at the thought of their kids eating organic food at school, served on a plate made of what many consider to be the “ethically superior” bioplastic. Cue the smiling children’s faces, the shot of endless fields of grain under a blue sky, all set to the relaxing yet upbeat piano tune of some long-forgotten composer. The stereotypical dream of green eco-lovers.

Here, however, is some not too tasty food for thought: In Milan parents recently complained that their children’s piping hot lunch had caused the plastic layer on the bioplastic plate to melt, leaving the kids with a topping of plastic sauce. All the merits of bioplastic notwithstanding, most of us would probably prefer good old-fashioned parmesan…