What you need to know about Tupperware and plastic container safety

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Tupperware, the iconic kitchen brand that has been a household name for decades, recently received a bailout from its creditors, but the business still faces extreme challenges. In view of the prospects of the brand, You may be wondering how long your stash of food storage containers is safe to use – especially if it’s vintage.

Understanding the answer to this question for all types of reusable plastic food storage products – not just Tupperware – often comes down to understanding what they’re made of. Bisphenol A, more commonly known as BPA, is a chemical that, according to the United States Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, has been used for years in the production of certain plastics to make them more durable and resistant to breakage. Unfortunately, BPA can also pose potential health hazards.

In human studies, BPA exposure has been associated with a higher risk of a wide range of health conditions or problems, such as infertility, impaired fetal growth, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and aggression among children, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis and. heart disease, said Laura Vandenberg, professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

In addition to food containers, BPA has been used in many other products, such as unbreakable windows, water bottles and glasses, and in resin that covers metal food cans, bottle caps and water supply pipes. The composition of your plastic product may depend on the year you bought it, Vandenberg said.

Since March 2010, Tupperware items sold in the United States and Canada are BPA-free, according to their website.

CNN reached out to Tupperware for comment but did not receive a response.

“We worry about those hard, break-resistant plastics that were made a decade ago, that were made with BPA,” Vandenberg said. “Every time they are used, they leach small amounts of BPA out of them. … Even low levels of BPA leach from consumer plastics, the linings of canned foods or other consumer goods.. . have been shown to be associated with harm, and people should certainly take care of it.

“If it’s not safe the day you buy it, it’s not safe 10 years later,” Vandenberg said. In fact, the longer you own them, the more risky they are to your health, he added.

Container wear risks

Putting stress on plastic food containers by washing them in the dishwasher or with rough scrub brushes “increases the ability of that plastic to wash away what’s been done,” Vandenberg said. Scratches can create deep grooves for bacteria to reside in, too, said James Rogers, director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports, a nonprofit research, testing and consumer advocacy organization.

Putting very acidic foods — like tomatoes or citrus fruits — in these products does the same thing, Vandenberg said.

The “microwave safe” label on some plastic containers does not mean the product is completely safe from a health standpoint, he added.

“Some of the plasticizers and chemicals can transfer from the plastic containers into the food during heating,” Rogers said. “So we recommend moving your food from a plastic container into a glass bowl and putting it in the microwave like that.”

Discoloration of a container can signal that a chemical change has occurred in the plastic, Vandenberg said. “It usually happens because there are lots of little micro-holes or micro-tears,” he explained. “And now there is an interaction with food and plastic (because plastic degrades). So if the plastic is discolored, it tells you that that plastic is breaking down.

Any damaged plastic food storage containers should be discarded, said Sam Cole, global director of product certification, food equipment and chemicals at the National Safety Foundation, an organization that facilitates the development of public health standards and programs. of certification for the protection of food, water, consumers. products and the environment.

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BPA in the body

Most of the daily exposure to BPA comes through the diet, according to the US Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. “The reason why we are concerned about BPA is that, going back to the 1930s, when it was tested for use as a pharmaceutical, it was clear that it acts as an estrogen,” Vandenberg. he said. “Estrogen is a fairly powerful hormone that is important for reproduction and fertility, but also very important for the development of sexual organs, brain development and metabolism control.

“It has a role in the development of muscles and the development of fat,” he added. “So even small amounts of tinkering with estrogen or estrogen pathways in our body can have really serious results for our health.”

The shape of the molecules in BPA makes it more likely to bind to estrogen receptors, Vandenberg added. “Avoid using those reusable plastics as much as possible, because I have not seen good evidence that there are consumer plastics that are free of estrogenic properties.”

In general, plastics labeled “PC” (for polycarbonate) or recycling codes three or seven likely contain BPA, according to Vandenberg and the US Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Some manufacturers have removed BPA and other bisphenols, sometimes called analogs, from their products because of public attention — rather than regulatory action — but not all, Vandenberg said.

“Think about replacing it with something that’s chemically inert, like glass,” Vandenberg said. “If you can’t afford to replace everything at once, replace them one at a time.”

“I know it’s heavy, it can break and everything else, but we think the benefits of using glass containers to store food and heat food outweigh the risks,” said Rogers.

You can also opt for porcelain, ceramic or stainless steel containers, especially for hot foods and liquids, according to Vandenberg and the US Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.