Is a 20 year old Tupperware safe to use?

Author: Ms. Piper Christiansen  |  Last update: Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Old Tupperware, especially those over a decade old, might contain hazardous chemicals like cadmium, lead, and arsenic. These can leach into your food, posing significant health risks. Vintage Tupperware products are particularly concerning due to the potential leaching of additional harmful substances.

When should you throw out old Tupperware?

If the Tupperware is stained, warped, or has absorbed odors after extensive use, it might be time to replace it. Throwing it away after a single use is generally not necessary unless it's intended for single-use products, like some food delivery containers.

Is a 25 year old Tupperware safe?

Even the low levels of BPA that leach from consumer plastics, canned food linings or other consumer goods … have been shown to be associated with harm, and people certainly should care about it. “If it's not safe the day you buy it, it's not safe 10 years later,” Vandenberg said.

Is 30 year old Tupperware safe to use on Reddit?

If it's more than 11 years old: If the Tupperware you have at home is excessively old, you should replace it not only because it may have deep scratches from constant use where bacteria can get trapped, but also because it's probably made of bisphenol-A (BPA), a potentially harmful chemical.

How to tell if old Tupperware is safe?

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. If any of your containers have a #3, #6, or #7, those should be disposed of because they are considered high-risk plastics.

Don't Know What To Do With Old Tupperware? Here's 5 Tips To Tackling Old Plastic Food Storage

What year did Tupperware stop using BPA?

As of March 2010, items sold by Tupperware US & CA are made of BPA-free materials.

What is the lifespan of Tupperware?

Tupperware plastic products typically do not have a specific expiry date. However, over time, they may show signs of wear and tear, which can affect their quality.

Will Tupperware replace my old Tupperware?

LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY

In the event of a product's failure to meet the foregoing warranty, Tupperware, at its election, will either replace the affected product with a like or similar product or provide a credit toward future purchases of Tupperware® brand products.

Is it safe to use 1970s Tupperware?

Is Vintage Tupperware Dangerous? Yes, it can be. There have been many reports of vintage Tupperware containing unsafe levels of lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. It's time to stop using that old Tupperware handed down from granny.

How to tell if Tupperware is vintage?

Look at its colors: pieces from the 1940s and '50s are white or pastel, while later items are saturated in bright hues. Each of the storage canisters in the Servalier line, which nested within one another in graduated sizes, came with a decorative flower emblem on its smudge-proof textured exterior.

Does old Tupperware have lead?

The Tupperware® brand didn't nix BPA until 2010, and truly vintage Tupperware may even leach heavy metals like cadmium, lead, and arsenic into stored food.

Where can I sell old Tupperware?

The Tupperware that's piled in your pantry (or your parents' or grandparents' pantries) may actually serve you better listed for sale online than sitting on a shelf-if it's old Tupperware, that is. Online retailers such as eBay and Etsy have all kinds of vintage Tupperware for sale.

Is scratched plastic safe?

Some plastic bottles, cups, containers, toys and pacifiers, are made with the chemicals bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. These chemicals may be toxic when released by heat or when the product is scratched.

Is 40 year old Tupperware safe to use?

Old Tupperware, especially those over a decade old, might contain hazardous chemicals like cadmium, lead, and arsenic. These can leach into your food, posing significant health risks. Vintage Tupperware products are particularly concerning due to the potential leaching of additional harmful substances.

Does Tupperware have an expiration date?

How often do I need to replace my Tupperware? Tupperware® brand products are warranted by Tupperware against chipping, cracking, breaking or peeling under normal non-commercial use for the lifetime of the product.

Does Tupperware leach microplastics?

According to National Geographic's The Green Guide, plastics #2, #4 and #5 are the safest for repeatedly storing your food. If you reuse items made from plastics #1, #3, #6 and #7 (some Tupperware products are made from #7), you run the risk of having toxic chemicals leach into the contents.

Is 20 year old Tupperware BPA free?

Re: Is Older Tupperware Safe

Tupperware said that since 2010, they have not sold items containing BPA. How about products sold prior to 2010? If I were concerned about the BPA, I would discard the stuff made prior to 2010.

Should I get rid of my old Tupperware?

While there is no set timeframe for replacing plastic food containers, experts say they should be tossed out when they show visible wear, chips, cracks, or signs of stains and odors. In place of plastic containers, experts recommend opting for glass or stainless steel instead.

How can I tell if my Tupperware is safe?

Your storage containers will have the symbol of a fork and wine glass engraved into the plastic if it actually is safe to store your meals in. Don't worry—most of your Tupperware should be completely usable with food, but it's always a good idea to check.

Is Tupperware coming back?

On November 1, 2024, a U.S. bankruptcy judge approved the sale, allowing Tupperware to exit Chapter 11 protection. The new owners, operating under the name "The New Tupperware Company," plan to focus on core markets while leveraging both online and traditional sales channels.

How do you make old Tupperware look new?

Instructions:
  1. Add a few drops of dish soap to your stained Tupperware.
  2. Fill about half of the container with warm water, add a piece of paper towel, and close the lid.
  3. Shake the container vigorously for about 15 to 30 seconds.
  4. Then, wash it as you normally would with dish soap and a sponge.

Can I recycle broken Tupperware?

19. Can Tupperware containers and specifically, the lids, be recycled? All plastic containers and lids that have the symbol of the chasing arrow on them and are numbered 1-7, and are not black, may be recycled.

When to throw out plastic Tupperware?

How To Know When It's Time To Throw Out Plastic Food Storage Containers
  1. Scratches or Cracks: If a container is scratched or cracked, it's time to toss it. ...
  2. Punctured: Leaking storage containers will not only create a mess, but it will be impossible to safely transport food.

Can I exchange my old Tupperware?

Thank you for shopping with Tupperware. We want you to be happy with every product you purchase. Therefore, if for any reason you are not completely satisfied, you can return items purchased from Tupperware.com within 30 days of delivery.

Can bacteria grow in Tupperware?

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.

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