BPA, PVC and Phthalate-free Food Storage Containers
January 16, 2009 by Alicia
Filed under Featured, Food Storage Containers, Shopping Guides
UPDATED 8/16/10
We began converting our babies’ dishes several years ago, and we’ve been collecting information on safer adult food storage options along the way. It’s amazing now to sit back and look over the sheer number of readily available products. Our list runs the gamut, from glass to stainless steel to safer plastic, from well-known brands to more obscure specialty companies. We’re positive you’ll find something that will fit your needs perfectly.
Fuel Kids Waste-free Lunch Containers
It so easy to go 100% reusable and waste-free with the wide array of affordable Fuel lunch gear! From sandwich boxes to insulated soup containers, Fuel products are simple for kids to use and their unique features open up a whole new world of healthy meal possibilities.
Fuel Wet and Dry Thermal Snack Container
Fuel PVC-free Kids Lunch Bag
Fuel Uno Dry Snack Container
Fuel Sandwich Boxes
Innate MC2 Food Container
This has to be one of the most innovative combination of two very versatile, durable and reusable materials ever! It’s a stainless steel container with an expanding silicone lid. It’s perfect for tossing food from non-microwavable stainless into the silicone bowl and microwaving for quick warming.
Innate Stainless and Silicone Food Container
CaliBowls (available in ceramic and BPA-free plastic)
The new SantaBarbara and Toddler CaliBowl with suction cup bottom are perfect for toddlers learning to feed themselves, especially with it’s ingenious lip to help those little hands scoop out the food.
CaliBowl Santa Barbara Ceramic
Kinderville Silicone Dishes and Storage Jars
Kinderville Silicone Food Storage Jars
Kinderville Silicone Freezer Trays
Kinderville Silicone Popsicle Mold
Thinkbaby Stainless Steel Insulated Bento Box
Thinkbaby Bento Box with Lock Down Leak-proof Lid
Lunchsense Lock & Lock Containers
Lunchsense Leak-proof Food Containers
Pyrex, Corningware and Corelle
All Pyrex, Corningware and Corelle products are made with safer plastic: bakeware, food storage, measuring cups, mixing bowls and lids.
Pyrex Smart Essentials Mixing Bowls
Pyrex Prep, Back and Store
Corningware Pop-ins Bake and Serve
Anchor Hocking Glass
All Anchor Hocking products are made with safer plastic: bakeware, food storage, measuring cups, mixing bowls and lids.
Anchor Hocking Kitchen Storage Containers
Anchor Hocking Measuring Cups and Batter Bowls
Snapware Glass Lock
The Snapware Glass Lock containers and lids are safer, but not all Snapware plastic products are BPA/PVC/phthalate-free at this time.
Snapware Glass Lock Containers
Kinetic Go Green Glasslock
All Kinetic containers are made with safer plastic (including their non-glass Premium line).
Kinetic Go Green Glasslock Containers
Bormioli Rocco Frigoverre
This particular Frigoverre Glass Storage set is made with safer plastic
Bormioli Rocco Frigoverre Glass Storage Set
Onyx Stainless Steel Ice Cube Trays
Onyx Stainless Steel Ice Cube Trays
Ecolunchbox
ECOlunchboxes Stainless Steel Containers
LunchBots
LunchBots are 100% stainless steel, including the lids
Lunchbots Stainless Steel Food Containers
Healthy Kitchenware
This Lunch Carrier comes with a stainless steel lid, and the sauce container lid is made with safer plastic.
Stainless Steel Lunch Carrier with Sauce Container
Greentainer Stainless Steel Lunchbox
Greentainer Lunchbox
To-Go Ware
To-Go Ware makes a tremendous line of plastic-free, stainless steel food containers
To-Go Ware Stackable Tiffins and Sauce Containers
All-Clad
This particular All-Clad Stainless Steel Canister Set is made with only stainless steel and glass
All-Clad Stainless Steel Canister Set with Glass Lids
Kids Konserve
Kid Konserve offers many different eco-friendly container options. Their plastic lids and reusable food wraps are made with safer plastic.
Kid Konserve Food Cozy
Kids Konserve Round Containers
Kid Konserve Mini Stainless Steel Containers
Thermos
Thermos has been in the food and drink business for a long time. Well, now they’ve gone and made their adult Food Jars look fantastic! Their insulated stainless steel food jars come in many different colors and sizes, and all are made with small amounts of safer plastic.
Thermos Stainless Steel Insulated Food Jars
Oxo Pop Plastic Containers
Oxo has outdone themselves with the Good Grips Pop Plastic Containers container line! They even landed the Red Dot Award for Product Design 2008. All Pop containers are made with BPA/PVC/phthalate-free plastic.
Oxo Good Grips Pop Plastic Containers
TellFresh Containers
TellFresh Plastic Snack Boxes and Food Storage Containers are made from safer polypropylene (#5) plastic. They’re simple, but get the job done.
TellFresh Plastic Snack Boxes and Food Storage Containers
Laptop Lunches
Laptop Lunches bento boxes also make a great reusable to-go container.
Laptop Lunches Bento Box Lunch Set
SnackTaxi
Snack and sandwich sizes are cloth lined with tough nylon to help keep moisture in.
Snack Taxi Sandwich
3GreenMoms
3GreenMoms has just come out with an innovative design in reusable cloth pouches. They are made from a high quality, moisture-proof German fabric used worldwide in the food industry. These bags are food safe, extremely durable, grease-proof and can even be thrown in the dishwasher. They come in a set of two, one orange and one green, and are perfect for lunch or snack pairings of fruit, sandwiches or chips. Made in the USA.
Lunch Skins Reusable Bags
Plum Creek Mercantile
The folks at Plum Creek Mercantile have provided 100% cotton twill snack bags and food bags in an effort to help you avoid filling the landfill with plastic baggies. Although they are not to be used for liquid (i.e. soup) or soft fruit items (i.e. raspberries due to staining) they can be used to contain most lunch box items. Even a gooey PB&J or turkey sandwich will stay contained in this bag. A simple washing after its use will remove any extra gooeyness that has been contained by the fabric. They can be machine washed and dried or handwashed with the dinner dishes and hung to dry for use the next morning. Each bag has a strong and secure hook and loop closure, yet easy enough for even the littlest of hands to open.
Plum Creek Reusable Plastic-free Snack Bags
Fresh Snack Packs
The reusable Fresh Snack Pack bags are Mom-invented and are made from durable EVA, which is a great alternative to PVC, and even have a built-in placemat. They definitely send a great message to our kids and schools about the importance of reusing all that we can.
Fresh Snack Packs
Graze Organic Reusable Sandwich and Snack Bags
Graze Organic Reusable Sandwich and Snack Bags
Check back often, as we’ll continue to update our list as we come across more safer food storage containers!
Wow, cool! So will you be selling all of these?
what is the story with tupperware is it bpa free and pvc free i have the newer stuff from this year and last year
Thank you so much for this post!
And the pics, those are super helpful!
We don’t seem to have that much variety here in Canada. We have Anchor, Pyrex, Corelle, Corningware and Thermos, though. I would love to have the Snapware glasslock! They look perfect for leftovers.
Thanks for the info.! It is really good to know that I already own something that is free of all the chemicals.
Does anyone have any recommendations on a blender/processor/hand held blender I can use for making baby food? I obviously want something that is BPA, PVC, and phthalate free. But also I don’t want to spend more than $50 for it.
Thanks.
Thanks for a very informative post. I’ve been wanting to convert my plastic storage to glass. It’s been a slow process. I just recently came across some Anchor container on special and got those. Now I have a better idea of my options.
That sounds great Alicia. I have not had much luck, and when I call some of these companies about it, they have no idea what I’m talking about.
When do you think the article might be ready? Just wondering cause I will start baby food with my son in less than a month.
Thanks.
Thanks so much for sharing those! Now that I have my cookware replaced w/ non toxic stuff, I’m working on my food storage. What a great reference!
The Aladdin products are fantastic. I recommend them.
Perhaps I missed it, but in addition to this excellent posting, I would also find it invaluable to have a review of testing results on plastic water bottles. We currently consume all our water from Poland Spring which now comes packaged in an “eco-shaped” bottle containing 30% less plastic… and that’s great for the environment… but is there anything being done about testing and reducing PVCs from leeching into the water itself.
Pyrex as you know do glass containers. I just received some today and the lids are PBA free. Worth noting. Great website by the way.
What do you know about Rubbermaid stuff? I ‘ve been using them because they’re BPA free but not sure about phthalates and PVC?
Thanks for the list.
I purchased some Tell Fresh containers, and I’ve been really happy with them. They have great sizes for lunch boxes and home storage.
The Anchor Glass containers with plastic lids listed above…the lids are made of plastic #7 (which my understanding contains BPA).
Hi Dorene,
The Anchor Hocking company confirmed that all of their lids are BPA-free. We use their products (including the ones pictured above) and all are even marked as such on the packaging. None of ours are labeled as #7 either.
Also, not all plastics marked with the recycling code #7 contains BPA. Recycling codes should only be used as general guidelines, not a cut and dried ingredient labeling system. You can learn more about that here.
Best,
Alicia
Was this a recent change, because our Anchor lids all are coded #7
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I just bought some a stainless steel bowl set from Walmart . It is part of their Mainstays line. I bought them because they have plastic covers and can be used for food storage.The plastic covers have no code or numbers or letters or anything on them. They are cloudy white and somewhat flexible. They are giving off a “plasticy” smell that worries me. Is PVC still used in these items? I want to store highly acidic food like tomato sauce in them. What to do? I can’t seem to win here, its hard to know whats what.
Thank you for all of this information. I really appreciate the great resource you supply!
I just want to say thank you so much. I’m about to start making my son’s baby food and only have the glass containers, so it’s good to find safe plastic containers that I can freeze! Great resource all around! Looking forward to exploring the site more!
Hi can anyone tell me if the Stay-Fresh Baby Food Containers 12-Pack are BPA free? I’ve read that they are a little sturdier than the baby food cubes and I want to purchase one or both of the sets but I want to make sure that the Stay-Fresh containers are safe. Thank you and I absolutely LOVE this website! Thanks for all the information!
Which storage containers would you recommend for ease of storing them in a small cupboard? We would like to buy a big set of glass or perhaps stainless steel storage containers (or ceramic for that matter) but we don't want 20 different sizes with a plethora of hard to match lids. Is there any sets out there where we could buy a uniform set (so we'd only have one type of lid) and they would nest or stack so we can store them in our small pantry?
I am interested in freezing some pear and apple sauce for my baby. I did purchase the freezer safe ball jelly jars in 4, 6, and 8 oz. Then I found out the bottom of the lids contain BPA. There are BPA free plastic screw top lids that fit these jars. Does anyone know if the use of these “freezer safe glass” jars are indeed ok and will not splinter or break? There are freezer safe BPA free plastic jars by Ball also, however I was really trying to go plastic free… Please give your experiences ..
I am SO impressed with this list – so comprehensive. We've been buying Pyrex only since we know they're safe but am so glad to have more options! Thanks for pulling this all together. I was just starting to research food containers for my son who'll start eating lunch at school this fall.
Any recommendations on lunch containers for kids that are easy for them to open without assistance and can stand up to the dishwasher? Those are our points of frustration with those we've bought so far.
Do you have any information on Martha Stewart glass storage containers? They are similar to the Anchor Hocking Glass line and have a green plastic lid. Curious about the lids now that I have been doing some research.
Thanks!
Do you have any information on Martha Stewart glass storage containers? They are similar to the Anchor Hocking Glass line and have a green plastic lid. Curious about the lids now that I have been doing some research.
Thanks!
If a food storage container is bpa-free, can you safely heat food in it in the microwave? Also, is it safe to wash bpa-free containers in the dishwasher without causing any concerns about the safety of the food stored in them?Must you cool all foods before storing them in bpa-free containers? What I'm concerned about is the heat factor.
Once of the nice things about the Anchor Hocking products is that they are made in Ohio so they are local to me!
You might want to check out something new. Its glass and stainless steel. The glass is freezer, dishwasher, microwave and oven safe! The lid is stainless steel and completely screws on to the glass so theres no leakage, no freezer burn and no contamination. It has measurement markings of 50ml, 100ml, 150ml & 200ml so you can fill them according to your childs appetite and they are etched into the glass so they wont come off. Best of all it is patent pending and designed wholly by a mum! Check it out http://www.tinytastebuds.com.au
There is no such thing as “safe” or “safer” plastic. Most of these products have plastic lids… that's only lessening exposure, not cutting out exposure completely. The stainless steel, pyrex, cloth varieties are a safer bet. I would stay away from the silicon option completely (especially for children!!)… as that opens a whole new unsafe can of worms.
Are you certain the snapware glass lock lids are bpa free? I went to their website & they don't specify. All they say is that they have a silicone seal.
We've discussed often on our blog that manufacturer's are not required to label their products with materials used. So many times you will not find that information on their website either. That's what we do here at The Soft Landing, contact manufacturers and confirm the materials used so that we can provide lists of safe options in eating gear.
If you're still unsure of our findings, you may want to contact them directly to confirm.
Best,
Alicia
Can you tell which of these products are manufactured in the United States?
I'm not finished read this yet, but it's so fabulous 'n I'll back again when I was finished my job
Great post!! Those are safe enough for our kids. And all are great in design.
What's the most important lesson you have learned from living on your food storage ?
This would be perfect! it looks so adorable.
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Bravo, Bros! keep going like this, more good info again.
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This is so interested! Where can I find more like this?
Would it, in the end, be far more economical, not to mention more environmentally friendly, to spend a bit more money on better plastic food storage containers than those disposable ones. The short answer is, yes.
You can just order them from ebay and they’ll ship it to you via FedEx or DLH in 3 days, of course you’ll have to pay $12 more for the shipping, but overall I think it’s worth it. You can also drive down to some of the restaurants in Washington DC and ask them where they buy their Snapware glasslock, because they probably have a discount supplier.
You can find at this web page http://www.biokitchenstore.com food storage container to use for short term 100% made of plants that you can put in the microwave. It is great! even plastic #5 has some substances that can affect our health. Please read http://www.ewg.org/node/27344)
Hi Rachel,
Some Tupperware products are still made with polycarbonate plastic (containing BPA). They make it very clear that they see no issue with using it and have plans to continue doing so. At least they now have a list of products and the type plastic used posted on their website now. You can cross-check it before purchasing any Tupperware products here.
Hope that helps,
Alicia
Hi Willowsprite,
Glad you like it!
No, we most likely won’t be carrying all of the products listed. We’ll pick our very favorites (and would love to hear yours too), because we have limited warehouse space with the other 40+ brands we sell now
Alicia
You’re very welcome, Multi-Tasking Mommy! We’re thrilled to hear you found it helpful
Alicia
Hi Fiona,
You’re welcome! We’re just getting started on food processors and will be writing an article with our findings soon.
Alicia
Hi Jen,
We posted some info and a link to Rubbermaid’s website where they offer a list of all their BPA-free products. You can find it here.
Alicia