Understanding the Risks Associated with Vintage Reusable Plastic Food Containers

Tupperware, the iconic kitchen brand, has been a household name for decades. However, the business still faces extreme challenges, and you might be wondering how long your stash of its food storage containers is safe to use, especially if it’s vintage.

Source: media.cnn.com

The answer to this question often comes down to understanding what the reusable plastic food storage products are made of. Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in the production of certain plastics to make them more durable and shatter-resistant, has been a subject of concern.

According to the United States Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, BPA has been associated with a wide range of health conditions or issues, such as infertility, altered fetal growth, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and aggression among children, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, and heart disease.

The Role of BPA in Reusable Plastic Food Containers

Prof. Laura Vandenberg, a professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, explained that BPA can leach from consumer plastics, canned food linings, or other consumer goods and has been shown to be associated with harm. ‘Even low levels of BPA have been shown to be associated with harm, and people certainly should care about it,’ she said.

The risk of BPA leaching from reusable plastic food containers increases when they are exposed to heat, acidic foods, or rough handling. ‘We worry about those hard, shatter-resistant plastics that were made a decade ago, that were made with BPA,’ Vandenberg said. ‘Every single time that they’re used, they’re leaching small amounts of BPA out of them.’

The longer you own the reusable plastic food containers, the riskier they are for your health. ‘If it’s not safe the day you buy it, it’s not safe 10 years later,’ Vandenberg said.

Identifying BPA-Containing Products

The composition of your plastic product can depend on the year you bought it. Since March 2010, items Tupperware sells in the US and Canada are BPA-free, according to its website. However, if you have vintage Tupperware or other reusable plastic food containers, it’s essential to be aware of the potential risks.

Plastics with the label ‘PC’ (for polycarbonate) or recycling codes three or seven likely contain BPA, according to Vandenberg and the US Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Alternatives to Reusable Plastic Food Containers

Prof. James Rogers, director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports, suggested replacing reusable plastic food containers with glass or other inert materials. ‘If you can’t afford to replace everything all at once, replace them one at a time,’ Vandenberg recommended.

Other alternatives to reusable plastic food containers include porcelain, ceramic, or stainless-steel containers, especially for hot foods and liquids.

Discoloration of a container can signal that a chemical change has occurred in the plastic. ‘Usually that is happening because there’s lots of little micro-holes or micro-tears,’ Vandenberg explained. ‘And now there’s an interaction with the food and the plastic (because the plastic is degrading). So if the plastic is discolored, it’s telling you that that plastic is breaking down.’

Any damaged plastic food storage containers should be discarded, according to Sam Cole, global director of product certification, food equipment, and chemicals at the National Safety Foundation.

The Risks of BPA Exposure

The majority of daily exposure to BPA happens through diet. ‘The reason why we worry about BPA is that, going all the way back to the 1930s when it was tested for use as a pharmaceutical, it was clear that it acts like an estrogen,’ Vandenberg said.

Estrogen is a powerful hormone that is essential for reproduction and fertility, but also for the development of sex organs, the brain, and controlling metabolism. Even small amounts of tinkering with the estrogen or estrogen pathways in our body can have serious outcomes for our health.

The shape of the molecules in BPA makes it more likely to bind to estrogen receptors. ‘I avoid using those reusable plastics as much as possible, because I have yet to see good evidence that there are consumer plastics that are free from estrogenic properties,’ Vandenberg said.

Some manufacturers have been phasing BPA and other bisphenols out of their products due to public attention, rather than regulatory action, but not all. ‘Think about replacing them with something that’s chemically inert, like glass,’ Vandenberg suggested.