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