Questions you have wanted answered

about the safety of plastics

NTX1998

PLASTICS
Tupperware Belgium N.V. - Wijngaardveld 17, B-9300 Aalst, Belgium
Tupperware France S.A. - Route de Monts, B.P. 327, F-37303 Jou-Les-Tours, France
Tupperware reserves the right to change its product colours and materials without notice
in order to provide customers with increasingly high performance, high technology products.

questions in general and on

Tupperware products in particular

Tupperware materials
Certain plastics are controversial, but wrongly so!
Below are answers to some key questions raised on certain materials
used in making certain Tupperware products.

What safety regulations are used

by Tupperware to guarantee its products?
True to its reputation of being a responsible, reliable business,
Tupperware has been in the European market for 50 years and has
always been committed to complete compliance with European
health and safety regulations and to monitoring all evolution of
these. In actual fact, the EFSA (European Food Safety Agency)
has established two safety parameters concerning plastic
materials coming into contact with food products:
the Specific Migration Limit (SML)1: 0.6 mg BPA/kg of food
the Admissible Daily Intake (ADI)2: 0.05 mg BPA/kg of
bodyweight per day
1

SML: maximum allowed amount of a

substance present in the product,
migrating into food.

ADI:

Tupperware products are controlled to ensure that they are kept to

values well below those permitted by current European standards.

estimated quantity of substance,

expressed in relation to bodyweight, which can be ingested
on a daily business throughout
a person's life, with no significant
health risk.

Which Tupperware products contain

PC (polycarbonate)?
The table below shows which Tupperware products are made of polycarbonate, their use and a health focus.

Products

Description

Use

Precautions
for use

Health focus

Eleganzia

Range of serving dishes,

crockery, basket

Display
Serving
Transport

Quick Chef 3
Herb Chopper
Smooth Chopper
Speedy Chef

Mixer

Preparation

The use of
Tupperware
products made of
polycarbonate
does not affect the
heat or cold.

Slice N Dice

Cutting utensil

Do not use:
in a microwave,
in a traditional oven,
over direct heat.

J
Preparation

Do not use under a grill

in a traditional oven.

D
Measuring jugs

Measurement utensil

Preparation

Do not put
in freezer.

H
Ravioli maker
Croissant party

Preparation utensil

Preparation

Do not use
sharp utensils.

s
Dishwasher safe except
for the Eleganzia range.

Additionally,
the specific
migration limit for
these products is
factor 10 below the
European standard.
These products,
therefore, if used
as recommended
by Tupperware,are
well within the
safety limitations
set by EFSA.

Tupperware materials

What is BPA? What is its purpose?

The number 7

BPA, or Bisphenol A, is a chemical mainly used in association with other

chemical substances to manufacture certain plastics and resins. BPA
is used, for example, in preparing polycarbonate, a high performance
transparent rigid plastic used in particular for manufacturing food
containers, prescription lenses, CDs, DVDs, etc.

What does the number 7 mean?

BPA is authorised for use in materials in contact with food products

in the European Union, in compliance with Directive EC 10/2011,
foods with a maximum specific migration limit of 0.6 mg/kg of food

The symbol used for this code system is a triangle created from
arrows in a clockwise direction, containing a number;
each number corresponds to a material or a specific
group of materials.

(see page 3:

Tupperware materials

).

In 1988, the plastic materials industry created a 7-figure encoding

system (the "Resin identification code"), allowing for the identification
of materials with the specific aim of enabling easier separation
for recycling.

Thus, recyclable plastic materials are today coded

from 1 to 7 as follows:

Is BPA toxic?
If so, in what conditions?
What are the risks?
In 2010, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), stated that it found
no scientific support to conclude that BPA is toxic to humans. EFSA's
determinations from 2006 about safety levels of BPA were confirmed
as well.
BPA can potentially interact with the hormone system of the human
body and is an endocrine disruptor that affects fertility.
The EFSA monitors all publications on BPA and is informed of all studies
planned and implemented worldwide.

Code 1: PET (polyethylene terephthalate)

Code 2: HDPE (high density polyethylene)

Code 3: PVC (polyvinylchloride)

Code 4: LDPE (low density polyethylene)

Code 5: PP (polypropylene)

Code 6: PS (polystyrene)

Code 7: other plastics including polycarbonate, acrylic,

liquid crystal polymers (LCP) and nylon.

Code 7 is not, therefore, under any circumstances an indicator of

the danger level of a material. It simply indicates that a material is
manufactured in a resin other than the 6 coded from 1 to 6, or,
importantly, using several resins (in multilayers).
There is a table summarizing codes 1 to 7, describing the different types
of plastics, their properties, uses and which of them can be recycled.
Additionally, because most Tupperware products come with a lifetime
guarantee, the intent is not to recycle, but reuse.

More generally, why do certain Tupperware products

not bear this marking?
Certain products do not have the code because the moulds used to create
them do not have them as the coding is a recent innovation. Tupperware
has chosen, on its own initiative, to draw up a 2-year plan in order to
ensure that all its moulds will be fitted with the plastic material recycling
code (figure from 1 to 7). This is scheduled for completion in 2013.

Heating Tupperware products

Heating Tupperware products

Which plastic Tupperware products can be safely
used in a traditional oven or microwave?
What do they contain?
Is their composition suitable for heating?
The table to the side shows which Tupperware products can be used in
a traditional oven and microwave, for heating and cooking, as well as
providing information on their characteristics and a health focus.

Products

Description
/
Use

Precautions
for use

Health focus

Silicone moulds

Material 100% silicone (S)

/
Moulds for shaping and cooking

In the traditional oven or

microwave up to 220C.
Do not use under a grill.
Suitable for dishwashers
and freezers.

UltraPro

Liquid crystal polymer (LCP) material

/
Cooking, storage, freezing, serving,
reheating

In the traditional oven or

microwave up to 250C.
Do not use under a grill.
Suitable for dishwashers
and freezers.

No product
manufactured by
Tupperware and
intended specifically
for reheating and
cooking made of
polycarbonate.

MicroGourmet
and
Ramekins 80 ml

Polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE)

and polyetherimide (PEI)
/
Microwave steam cooking

In the microwave up to 160C.

30 minutes at a time
and max. 800 watts.
Dishwasher safe.

Microwave
Ricemaker

Polypropylene (PP)
/
Microwave cooking, serving, storage

In the microwave up to 120C

at max. 800 watts
and without fat.
Dishwasher safe.

Microwave
Pasta maker

Polypropylene (PP)
/
Microwave cooking, serving, storage

In the microwave up to 120C

at max. 800 watts
and without fat.
Dishwasher safe.

MicroPlus

Polyetherimide (PEI)
/
Reheating and cooking in
the microwave, freezing,
serving, storage

In the microwave up to 200C

at max. 800 watts.
Suitable for dishwashers
and freezers.

Heat N Serve

Polyetherimide (PEI),
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
Polypropylene (PP)
/
Reheating in the microwave,
freezing, serving, storage, transport

In the microwave up to 160C

at max. 600 watts.
Suitable for dishwashers
and freezers.

CrystalPlus

Polyetherimide (PEI),
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
Polypropylene (PP)
/
Reheating in the microwave,
refrigerating, freezing,
serving, transport

In the microwave up to 160C

at max. 500 watts.
Suitable for dishwashers
and freezers.

CrystalWave

polypropylene (PP)
/
Reheating in the microwave,
refrigerating, serving, transport

In the microwave up to 120C

at max. 500 watts.
Dishwasher safe.

Baby plate with

suction pad
and Baby bowls

Polyethylene (PE)
and Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)
/
Reheating in the microwave, storage,
serving, transport

In the microwave up to 120C

at max. 500 watts (remove lid
and suction pad).
Dishwasher safe.

These products
are therefore not
harmful to health
when used normally
in accordance with
the Tupperware
recommendations
provided for each of
the products.

Heating Tupperware products

Are there risks involved in heating certain

Tupperware products?
What is the impact of microwaves
on products heated in a Tupperware product?
For all its products intended for heating and cooking, Tupperware:
uses highly engineered materials for which it
guarantees quality in compliance with national and
European standards in force concerning plastic
materials coming into contact with food products;
recommends how to use them safely, at no danger
to the consumer's health.
Tupperware therefore recommends using the products following
the usage instructions for each material; failure to do so may risk
damaging them.
Under these conditions, Tupperware is able to guarantee the safety of
all its products. For example, microwaves have no harmful effect on
Tupperware products intended for this use.

What is the impact of the transfer of heated plastic

onto food products?
Tupperware products are tested in the normal heating conditions for
which they are intended to be used.
The results of these tests show that Tupperware products are completely
compliant with the standards required by European legislation.
Concerns have been expressed about the possible presence of dioxin
in plastic, a substance that is only created when plastic is incinerated.
There are no dioxins caused by the normal recommended heating of
Tupperware products.

The specific case

of 3 Tupperware products:
UltraPro
Microgourmet
Silicone moulds
Is the plastic used in UltraPro, which withstands high
heats, inert to heating? Is there any risk of toxins being
released upon heating?
UltraPro products are manufactured from a material called LCP: Liquid
Crystal Polymers. The structure of this plastic material is very hardwearing,
particularly resistant to heat, and inert; it is therefore not harmful to
health. The most well-known example of liquid crystal polymers is Kevlar,
which is renowned for its resistance.
UltraPro products are therefore built for maximum performance at a
wide range of temperatures from -25C to + 250C!
They are intended for use in traditional ovens or microwaves; they must
not, however, be used under a grill as this may damage them.
No toxins are released from the heating of UltraPro silicone.

How can health and safety be guaranteed

in the use of the Microgourmet?
Is the fact that the Microgourmet bears the figure 7
a sign of danger level?
Tupperware guarantees the safety in health terms of the Microgourmet
if used in the conditions recommended by Tupperware, namely: in the
microwave at a maximum temperature of 160C, at 800 watts and for a
maximum of 30 minutes at a time.
Ramekins must be used without lids for cooking or reheating, at a
maximum power of 800 watts.
The figure 7 engraved into the base of the Microgourmet means
that one of the materials used in its production, polyetherimide, is
classified as code 7 in the "Resin identification code" (see page 5:
The number 7 ). please remember, code 7 is not, therefore, under any
circumstances an indicator of the danger level of a material. It simply
indicates that a material is manufactured in a resin other than the
6 coded from 1 to 6, or using several resins (in multilayers).

The specific case of 3 Tupperware products

Do Tupperware Silicone moulds contain BPA?

Phthalates?
Why are they marked 7?
Tupperware Silicone moulds are manufactured using PDMS
(polydimethylsiloxane), the most commonly used silicones.
Today, silicones are enjoying massive popularity thanks to their
remarkable properties, mainly due to their very solid framework
consisting of silicon and oxygen. Thermal stability, absence of toxicity
and chemical inertia are the main virtues of silicones.
Tupperware Silicone moulds do not contain dioxins, phthalates, BPA or
polyvinylchloride. Silicone is a material approved by EFSA as completely
safe for health, when used for shaping and cooking.
Tupperware Silicone moulds are marked 7 simply because silicone
material is classified as 7 in the "Resin identification code" (see page 5:
The number 7 ). Please remember, code 7 is not, therefore, under any
circumstances an indicator of the danger level of a material. It simply
indicates that a material is manufactured in a resin other than the
6 coded from 1 to 6, or using several resins (in multilayers).

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