Why is it better to get rid of your old Tupperware?

Who doesn’t have more or less old plastic food containers in their kitchen? But shouldn’t you throw them away?

Plastic food storage containers are far from having an eternal life expectancy. In any case not without fear for health.

Containers that are not eternal

Everything goes, even Tupperware. We all have plastic containers on our kitchen shelves to store leftovers in the refrigerator instead of throwing them away or letting them go to waste. But how long can these boxes continue to be used, heated in the microwave, washed in the dishwasher?

Those plastic food storage containers aren’t forever, either. But they can also, we are increasingly discovering, present risks to our health. Just like the famous plastic tableware so long used for small children, with a patterned bottom.

Bisphenol A banned since 2015

Thus, before 2010, many products still contained bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical substance capable of leaching into food and can harm your health. The National Health Security Agency has been clear about its responsibility for “proven health effects in animals (on reproduction, the mammary gland, metabolism, the brain and behavior) and other suspected effects in humans, metabolism and cardiovascular pathologies”

In France, after being banned inbaby bottles, bisphenol A was banned from all food containers as of January 1, 2015. You must therefore throw away these old plastic containers, if you have any left. Otherwise, with each use and each wash, these utensils will continue to degrade over time, and small amounts of BPA will escape.

Choose glass containers

Food storage containers are now engraved with a triangle at the heart of which is written a number between 1 and 7. If the number in question is a 2, a 4 or a 5, these numbers actually designate high density polyethylene ( HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP). To date, these three components considered safe and reusable. If you see another number, it’s best to get rid of it.

In general, it is in any case strongly recommended to get rid of containers from more than ten years agoeven when they still seem to be in perfect condition. Do the same in case of scratches or permanent stains. Especially since using the dishwasher accelerates the degradation of plastic containers. The simplest solution, basically? Simply favor glass boxes.

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