How Safe Is Tupperware? (2024)

FAQs

Is Tupperware BPA free now? ›

As of March 2010, items sold by Tupperware US & CA are BPA free. Join us in our mission to Do Good for people and the planet through thoughtful and conscientious product innovation and design practices that help to better lives and reduce waste.

Avoid High-Risk Plastics

If you look at the bottom of your plastic food storage containers and they have a #2, #4, or #5, those are generally recognized as safe for food and drink.

BPA, as well as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, are dangerous substances for humans, so if you've been using vintage Tupperware, the best thing you can do is not use them anymore. Plastic not only harms the environment but has also directly harmed humans for years.

All Tupperware products sold in the United States since 2010 is BPA-free, so they're safer than they used to be.

Containers made of glass are a safer, more sustainable option for storing food. They're made from natural materials and can be recycled indefinitely. Bamboo lids are another great option for non-plastic food storage. They're durable and eco-friendly, and they look great in the kitchen!

Even a plastic or glass container without a lid may allow the botulism germ to grow in the bottom of the container. It's very important for fresh air to move around the fermenting foods, because botulism grows in an environment without air circulation – such as plastic or glass containers.

When it comes to ensuring the safety of your tupperware contents, the biggest factor to manage is temperature, says Schaffner. To avoid dangerous bacteria growth, hot food needs to be kept above 140 degrees F, and cold food needs to be stored below 40 degrees F.

Since Tupperware is such a popular brand of plastic food storage containers, it is not surprising how many people have questioned whether Tupperware material contains BPA. Tupperware officially states that since 2010, they have not sold items containing BPA.

Health warning: Your vintage Tupperware may contain harmful lead and arsenic. For anyone who grew up in the 1950s, '60s or even '70s, brightly-coloured Tupperware was likely a fixture in your kitchen.

Why do people buy old Tupperware? ›

By buying vintage, you're practicing sustainability and reusing something from a different generation. Plus, Tupperware is one of those kitchen workhorses that still functions perfectly after decades of use.

Now she's turned her attention to old Tupperware items, with her studies delivering some alarming results. During a recent test of Tupperware's yellow vintage measuring cups - used in thousands of kitchens around the world for generations - not only did the expert find lead, but she found arsenic as well.

Of the commercial plastics on the market today, polypropylene is considered one of the safest. It's FDA-approved for food contact, so you'll find polypropylene in food containers like those that hold yogurt, cream cheese, and butter products.

Glass and ceramic containers, along with plastic utensils that are labeled “microwave safe” are good choices. Do not use glass or ceramic that contains a metal rim.

Studies have found that certain chemicals in plastic can leach out of the plastic and into the food and beverages we eat. Some of these chemicals have been linked to health problems such as metabolic disorders (including obesity) and reduced fertility.

There's no standard rule of thumb about when it's time to throw out your plastic containers. How long your containers last depends on how well you care for them, and the quality of plastic they're made of. You'll know it's time to toss your containers if they become warped or cracked.

There is a popular food tradition that says that once you are done eating what was offered to you in the container, you should never return back an empty container as a mark of courtesy. Often, people bring in food to others who are ill or in crisis or simply because they want to share the good food with them.

Plastic food storage containers and lids-such as Tupperware containers-that have the 1 or 2 recycling symbol on the bottom are accepted in almost all local recycling programs, provided they are empty, clean and dry. Recycle with the lid attached. Most recycling programs also accept #5 plastics.

Glass is a choice that is far more eco-friendly, safe, and durable than plastic containers.

What is the best survival food to store? ›

botulinum. The most common way this happens is when a contaminated illicit drug, such as black tar heroin, is injected into muscle or skin. Wound botulism also has been reported following traumatic injuries, such as motorcycle crashes and surgeries.

If food is covered with mold, discard it. Put it into a small paper bag or wrap it in plastic and dispose in a covered trash can that children and animals can't get into.

Even plastic containers with the lids left open can grow botulism if the air cannot get to the bottom or side of the food while it's fermenting. Botulism poisoning is a deadly illness that is still too common in Alaska.

Some strains can grow and produce toxins at temperature as low as 3°C, although it may take several weeks to form toxin when placed at low temperatures. Hence, refrigeration alone cannot effectively remove the risk of Clostridium botulinum in perishable foods in airtight packaging.

Summary: Using 'BPA-free' plastic products could be as harmful to human health -- including a developing brain -- as those products that contain the controversial chemical, suggest scientists.

Exposure to BPA is a concern because of the possible health effects on the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children. It can also affect children's behavior.

How do I know if my containers are BPA free? ›

Look for products labeled as BPA -free. If a product isn't labeled, keep in mind that some, but not all, plastics marked with recycle code 3 or 7 may contain BPA . Avoid heat. Don't put plastic containers in the microwave or dishwasher, because the heat may break them down over time and allow BPA to leach into foods.

This is a common question relating to many Rubbermaid products. At Rubbermaid Commercial Products, we do not sell any of the products that contain BPA.