For those new to this website:
Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic). Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February of 2023 (March 2023 print edition).
#1) Vintage Yellow Plastic Tupperware Measuring Cups
I was so excited to test these vintage Tupperware items; I had heard they could be positive for very high levels of Lead, and have always discouraged people from using them — but had never personally tested any vintage Tupperware cookware items that were positive for toxicants … until … now! While I knew they might have Lead, I was frankly quite surprised to also find Arsenic! In follow-up testing of other product colors (after originally publishing this piece) I found other colors of vintage Tupperware products tested positive for Mercury and Cadmium as well!
To see the test results for other vintage Tupperware colors I have tested click one of the images above or click on the corresponding color: ORANGE • GREEN • BROWN • YELLOW.
Click here to read (and sign) the petition asking for Tupperware to formally respond to this concern!
To read all of my articles related to toxicants found in Tupperware products, click here.
#2) Full XRF test results for the measuring cups pictured:
When tested with an XRF instrument, these “Daffodil Yellow” vintage (c, 1972) Tupperware measuring cups pictured here had the following readings:
- Lead (Pb): 2,103 +/- 41 ppm
- Arsenic (As): 250 +/- 28 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): 735 +/- 68 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 463 +/- 18 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 20 +/- 8 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 51 +/- 19 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 239 +/- 155 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 10,100 +/- 400 ppm
#3) How much Lead is too much Lead (in consumer goods)?
For Context: the amount of Lead considered toxic in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint, finish, or coating — or anything 100 ppm Lead (or higher) in the substrate. Federal agencies agree that there is no safe level of Lead exposure for humans, especially for children.
Read more: Why do vintage plastic items have Lead?
#4) What is XRF Testing?
If you are new to this website and want to learn more about XRF testing (which is one of the primary scientific testing methodologies used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to test for Lead and other toxicants in modern consumer goods intended for use by children) click here and here.
Testing on these measuring cups was done multiple times, for a minimum of 60 seconds each. Metals not detected by the XRF in consumer goods mode are not listed. All consumer goods test results reported on this website are replicable.
Read more: how can I tell if my Tupperware items have Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, or Arsenic?
This is another good example supporting the consideration that “Made in the USA” does not automatically always mean Lead-safe (especially when it comes to vintage items)! Click here to see more “Made in the USA” items that I have tested.
#5) Takeaway … Why is this a problem?
Especially in the absence of leach testing or other proof by the manufacturer that these items are safe, vintage functional food use items like this (that are positive for toxicants at high levels when tested with an XRF instrument) should be disposed of, or at least set aside until more information is available from the manufacturer. Since originally publishing this information, many of my readers have followed up with Tupperware and it is my understanding from what my readers have reported back to me that Tupperware has not done leach testing for toxicants on these vintage items, as it was not required at the time they were manufactured.
Of additional concern is that many of these vintage Tupperware pieces have been kept in regular daily service for their 40+ years of life and may have considerable wear and deterioration as a result of decades of heavy regular use. So even if they were not leaching at the time of manufacture they may be leaching now — four or five decades later.
#6) The bigger picture
There may not be a single incident of Lead poisoning (or Arsenic poisoning for that matter) that can be traced to a kitchen item like this because that is a difficult thing to track and study, given how many potential sources of toxicants can be found in our lives — in many items we use every day. Although with multiple toxicants present, at the levels found here, there is no defensible reason to save items like this and use them for food use purposes when there are inexpensive toxicant-free alternatives readily available today in nearly every store that sells kitchen goods (and nearly every grocery store for that matter).
The concern to consider is not so much “whether or not these specific cups might be poisoning you” but more along the lines of “what are the potential sources of environmental toxicity in our lives [sources that together can create an aggregate negative impact on our health]? And, what simple things can we do to eliminate possible exposure sources, giving our families (especially our children and our grandchildren) a better chance at a healthier life?”
This concern becomes even greater with some of the other Tupperware examples, which as I understand it has been marketed by the manufacturer as safe for microwave use. Any time you are heating plastics that contain toxicants (especially if the contents of the vessel contain food that may be acidic in any way — like lemon juice, vinegar, or tomato sauce) there is a greater potential for those toxicants to leach into the food.
For a safer choice in measuring cups, click here to see options.
#7) “But I don’t use my vintage things, I just collect them!”
I specifically discourage collecting items like this merely for the sake of collecting as well (even if you set them aside as a collectable item only for display), because a child might play with them at some point in the future and regardless of whether or not the potential negative health implications of Lead in vintage plastic (for example) has been studied at this point, it is not worth any potential risk.
Since publishing this article, one mother shared the following story with me: she has these exact measuring cups and she regularly gives them to her toddler to play with. Given he is a toddler and these cups are plastic, he likes to chew on them and they are now covered in bite marks. This is a terrific example of why we should not have items like this in our homes when there are readily available safer alternatives.
In general, please consider avoiding using any vintage kitchenware for food-use purposes in your home.
To see more vintage plastic items that I have tested, click here.
I get the following question a lot: “My mom says we grew up with these and we’re ‘fine‘ — how do I respond to that?” Click here to read my answer.
#8) “What measuring cups do you use, Tamara?”
If you are looking for a specific recommendation for a new measuring cup choice, here’s an Amazon affiliate link to the measuring cups I use in my home: https://amzn.to/3pJ2Mur. Here’s a second (fancier/more expensive) choice that I came across recently that I really like: https://amzn.to/35JNnCf.
#9) Reading & Sharing These Articles Helps Support This Work
As always, thank you for reading and sharing Lead Safe Mama articles.
- When you share articles from this website, Lead Safe Mama, LLC earns — a very modest — advertising income (about one penny per page view) that helps support the cost of the childhood Lead-poisoning prevention advocacy work and (truly independent) consumer goods testing and reporting here on this site.
- About 45 to 50% of Lead Safe Mama, LLC income comes from advertising and affiliate link purchases combined;
- About 45% comes from outreach events and consulting (including work directly with families).
- A final five to 10% of our income each month comes from direct contributions from readers.
In this way, with a funding base not relying on targeted corporate support, the test results shared here are unbiased and not influenced by industry. If you are interested in contributing in support of this work, click here for all the ways you can help and participate.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I try to answer all questions personally, although with recent increased readership on my website it may take me a while to respond!
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on one of our links, Lead Safe Mama, LLC (a woman-owned, Portland Oregon-based small business) may receive a percentage of what you spend at no extra cost to you.
Originally published: March 10, 2019
Updated: August 7, 2020
These measuring cups are plastic. So the lead is impregnated in the plastic itself? I thought it was only paint that had lead. Plastic itself is made with lead?
Hi Teresa,
Yes – much vintage plastic has Lead. There are lots of examples of that here on this blog. Here’s the link to the “vintage plastic” category on my blog: https://tamararubin.com/category/vintage-plastic/
Tamara
What about the yellow canisters and the brown pitcher?
My question exactly. My kitchen is full of Tupperware, including the beloved green mixing bowl!
Hi Barbara,
Thank you for commenting. Here is a green piece I tested. It is more of an olive green (pictures are with and without flash and the photos without flash are more true-to-color): https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/vintage-tupperware-green-bowl-2780-ppm-lead-234-ppm-arsenic-both-metals-are-poisonous-to-humans/
Tamara
I have been married for 52 years and my kitchen is just loaded with all this Tupperware you’ve mentioned (like the lettuce holder) etc, etc. They’ve always been so convenient, but I am 100% willing to purge everything if everything before 2005 is tainted. What about the small storage containers from 40 years ago? My measuring cups! I have 3 sets! Should we switch to glass? you have no idea how upset I am. I am a baker!!!
I have those also and was wondering this same thing.
If it’s vintage, it’s likely to be leaded 🙁
I have those yellow cannisters, too, but also wonder about the beige vintage Tupperware microwave bowls. They are meant to be heated.
I also have yellow cannisters which were my mothers in the 1060s. I have another concern and that is the green iceberg lettuce containers and the green celery containers. Are they likely to contain hazards metals as well? I purchased this items in the 1970s.
I also want to know about the green lettuce container, we use that all the time
so how do these metals get shed from the plastic and in what amounts over what period of time? Unless we know this, we know nothing is dangerous yet
That is the million dollar question as I have used my mother’s tupperware since the day they started selling it and I’m over 50+ and my children and grandchildren use it and non of us have any increased amount of any lead, or other things listed that Tupperware contains, however I’m not disputing it’s not there I just don’t see the extreme caution this has been made to be as lead comes in many forms as well as other contaminants harmful to us imo
Hi Shelli,
When you say “none of us have any increased amount of any lead, or other things listed” – have you done testing for these metals separately?
It is rare to get a metals test for Arsenic, Mercury and Cadmium. Usually you need a hair test or provoked urine test to get information about the body burden of those types of metals and most doctors don’t offer those routinely (if at all).
Blood Lead tests (BLLs) are more common but, even for children, these are also are not routinely administered to all children in most states (you usually have to specifically request one when you are getting blood work done). It is especially uncommon for adults to have a Blood Lead Level test – unless they are an adult with a potential industrial or occupational exposure concern (like someone who works in a battery plant, for example.)
It’s truly hard to measure what the specific potential health impact of an exposure like this might be – but it is always better to err on the side of caution. I like to share this post with folks who question what the potential health implications might be given persistent chronic (low-level) heavy metal exposure from daily use of vintage kitchenware and other vintage items: https://tamararubin.com/2015/02/fine/
What is not a question is the fact that these items are testing positive for levels of toxicants that governmental regulatory agencies across the world have deemed to be harmful to humans.
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara
Huh! Jann you DO know its Dangerous… You just read the report… YOU simply haven’t loaded the gun with the single led bullet and pulled the trigger enough times for it to effect you…….
The levels of various heavy metals in plastic mean little or nothing on their own. You need to know what RELEASES those metals into food and at what levels.
Heat: Microwaving or use with hot foods may release toxins in plastic. Don’t microwave food in any plastic containers that aren’t specifically made for the microwave. Glass is always a good choice instead.
Time: some toxins may be released slowly over time as the plastic breaks down. If you haven’t used it in a while, wash it before use.
Chemicals: some chemicals may cause heavy metals to be leached into food. Avoid storing highly acidic foods in old plastic dishes for long periods of time. Don’t use caustic cleaners.
A little common sense can go a long way toward avoiding problems.
Hi Ruth, thanks for commenting.
While in general that is true, it is also true that there is no way your average consumer can afford to spend $70 to $300 per item for leach testing, nor would it be worth it – given so many cheaper, non-toxic options are out there and available inexpensively today.
Since the metals are definitely present – the only way a consumer can know if their particular 40 or 50 year old pieces is leaching would be to leach test it themselves (given the factors you state above – including age and use-history/deterioration level) – and at that point they are better off putting those items away and spending $100 or $200 to replace them all with non-toxic modern alternatives (preferably glass, we store everything in the house in glass ball jars – easypeasy.)
Tamara
My husband worked for a company making plastic containers for ready meals and told me that there’s always leaching from plastic containers during cooking because the heat changes the chemical bonds and the more it’s used, obviously the more of the chemicals will leach out, remember the cling film problem a few years back which resulted in the reformulation of clingfilms (at least in the uk) so possibly even modern coloured plastics may not be so good to use
Thank you so much for commenting Chrissi!
Tamara
Where would you dispose of these things. I have a bunch but don’t want them to be recycled I’m assuming
Tupperware has No leaching or carsinigins you need to invited to their quality control lab
Are the “white” plastic vintage storage containers full of lead as well? Thanks
Hi Dawn,
Thank you for commenting. I haven’t yet tested those. I will let you know as soon as I do! Keep an eye on the blog here.
Tamara
My question too. Thank you Tamara.
What about the avocado green measuring cups? I have had them since 1976 or ’77.
Hi Betsy,
I believe this is the avocado green you are inquiring about (I took pics with and without flash, the without flash ones are more true to color): https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/vintage-tupperware-green-bowl-2780-ppm-lead-234-ppm-arsenic-both-metals-are-poisonous-to-humans/
Tamara
Please do not forget the Green, Red, Blue as well. Please provide lech rates for each as well If it does not come out of suspension it is not a hazard. Unless someone eats the plastic. Please provide Tupperware’s response as well if they do so.
Hi Richard,
I don’t do leach testing in my work.
I encourage my readers to send their vintage pieces to a lab for leach testing if they are curious about that.
My concern is for total content for toxicants, and how those levels compare to current federal regulations. Children are constantly chewing on these plastic items and I have several examples of the chewed-on vintage Tupperware in my collection as of this moment.
I have not yet heard from Tupperware with a response.
Here is the info on the GREEN that I have tested (I have not yet tested Red or Blue as they have not yet been sent in to me by my readers): https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/vintage-tupperware-green-bowl-2780-ppm-lead-234-ppm-arsenic-both-metals-are-poisonous-to-humans/
Here’s how to participate in the testing I do (if you want to send me colors to test – like Red and Blue – that are not yet posted on my blog): https://tamararubin.com/2017/07/subscribe-in-support-of-my-advocacy-work-you-can-become-eligible-to-send-in-a-box-of-your-things-for-testing/
Tamara
This was my question too
Hi Dawn,
I have recently tested some white ones and they were negative for toxicants, so the presence of toxicants appears to definitely be related to colorants used in the plastic. I will be posting about that shortly.
Tamara
The old clear plastic ones get sticky to the touch. Is there an address to Tupperware Company?
Hi Joan, I’m sorry I don’t have a contact address or number for them yet. If you find one, please feel free to share it here on the blog in the comments. Thank you!
Tamara
thank you, I have the white ones.
Thank you. I was wondering as I have severalpieces but they are all the non colored ones.
That’s what I’m wondering, too. My cabinets are full of the the clear pitchers and canisters. I have no problem replacing them if I need to, but hate to add more garbage to a landfill if they are safe.
Hi Sharon,
So far with the two examples of the white/clear I have tested (see this link here: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/is-my-tupperware-toxic-here-are-pictures-of-everything-i-have-tested-so-far-with-links-to-the-xrf-test-results/) those have been negative for toxicants. I do understand that if they were made before 2010 the company has shared that they have BPA (which is an endocrine disruptor and can cause medical issues like thyroid issues) so even if they are negative for Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and Arsenic – they are not necessarily “safe” and you may want to reconsider using them as a result of that bit of information. I think with all of this it is good to do your own research (with so much available online) and make choices that are best for your family based on that. We use 1/2 gallon clear glass ball jars for all of our food storage.
As far as landfill goes (for items with toxicants like Lead) here’s my post on that: https://tamararubin.com/2013/11/what-should-i-do-with-my-lead-contaminated-dishes-to-toss-or-not-to-toss/
Tamara
Tupperware Corp.
14901 S. Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, Fl 32802
I know the facts been at TW since 1972
Tupperware contact details are freely a available online. their responded would be welcome
Bridget – thank you for commenting.
They haven’t yet responded other than an initial short response with no actual answers.
Here is there response so far: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/march-27-2019-wednesday-152-p-m-i-just-got-a-response-from-tupperware/
Tamara
Here is the link for white vintage Tupperware: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/white-tupperware-vintage-measuring-cups-non-detect-for-lead-mercury-cadmium-and-arsenic/
I use these and to date I am lead free. Before we scare people maybe we should suggest they get themselves tested for lead first.
Hi JoAnna,
Most people don’t realize that doctors don’t always do blood lead testing (especially on adults) unless it is specifically requested or indicated for some reason. Additionally most blood lead tests do not report down to levels that might be indicative of chronic low level exposure from non-occupational sources. For an adult woman I would want to see a blood lead test done to a low threshold of 0.1 Micrograms Per Deciliter, however many tests for adult women have a low threshold of 5.0 micrograms per deciliter (not sensitive enough to detect ongoing low level chronic exposure from food or water for example).
You can read more about blood lead testing considerations on this post that I wrote recently: https://tamararubin.com/2019/02/blood-lead-testing-please-get-everyone-in-the-family-tested-since-you-have-been-living-in-a-house-with-high-lead-paint/
Thank you for commenting.
My goal is never to scare people, but to inform them of the presence of toxicants so they can make intentional choices for their family.
Tamara
Yes JoAnna! Thank you!
As a Tupperware consultant and a kid who grew up with these products, I am totally offended by this post. This woman is no scientist.
If my company’s products were poisoning people with lead all these years, we would have heard about it LOOOOOOONG ago!
Hi Denise,
As I haven mentioned in other posts, it is surprising to me that people are offended by toxicants found in 50 year old products when there was little-to-no regulation limiting the presence of these toxicants.
Please read my response to Susan (posted earlier) with link that support the validity of my work:
Tamara
__________________________
Susan,
If you look through the history of my work I have been a pioneer in this. Typically after I discover something then a local scientific organization or nonprofit will do a formal official study and confirm my results. Being the first person to discover something (using scientific methodology as I do) does not invalidate those discoveries.
Please check out this link (from CBS This Morning) about my work discovering Lead in fidget spinners: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fidget-spinners-high-levels-of-lead-consumer-advocacy-organization-report/
Also here is a study that a scientist did about the concern for Lead in glassware, about 8 years after I initially reported the issue: https://tamararubin.com/2017/11/decorated-glassware/
And here (more relevant to the Tupperware concern) is a study about toxicants found in vintage plastic toys, a study done about 7 years after I discovered this to be a concern: https://www.neha.org/sites/default/files/publications/jeh/JEH-JanFeb2015-Vintage-Toys.pdf
Just because I am a pioneer in this work, does not make findings inaccurate or untrue. Please share that with the Tupperware community.
Tamara
Another attempt to ruin Tupperware’s stellar reputation.
I wonder how much Tamara is being paid to do this? I don’t see a single mention of current Tupperware and the measures that are taken to ensure a safe product, plus the hundreds of thousands of employees that depend on the product sales for their livelihood.
Shame on you Tamara
Hi Rob,
I am a mother of Lead poisoned children and I test consumer goods for toxicants and report them on my blog. I test things that my readers send me and that they want tested. There is never any intention to ruin the reputation of any company, just to report the truth. I report the presence or absence of toxicants in consumer goods that my readers send me.
I had a net loss of $12,000 for my work last year (in terms of responding to your question of how much I am being paid.) In the future I hope to have a sustainable income from my work informing families (and especially informing young mothers) of the toxicants I find in everyday household products. This is a more-than-full-time-job for me and I hope eventually to be compensated appropriately. In the meantime I do this because it is the right thing todo and because no one else is doing this.
Tamara
We all bought Tupperware decades ago. I’m still using a couple of pieces and, yes, the measuring cups as well. These people will post negative stuff about any and everything! Nothing is positive in their world.
But they will “research” stuff and find something wrong with it!!! Let ’em worry for the rest of their lives. I prefer to enjoy my life and those I love, rather than frighten them with terror and nonsense. We’re all going to die. I’ll go naturally and gracefully; not afraid of anything.
Tupperware is the least of my concerns.
And are you a scientist? Because if you aren’t then you have no right to criticize her and your opinion is no more valid than hers. Also, just because something hasn’t killed you yet doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. Try reading some actual scientific studies instead of the sales book that comes with your tupperware.
She is monetizing fear. I want to hear it from scientists not her if it is true. I grew up with them, I have no health issues… zero… and many of my very vigilant, health conscious, freaked out about everything friends have or get EVERYTHING… name it, they have it! Also.. switching to “modern” items? good for you… in 20 years someone will be saying no! Look at what’s wrong with THOSE! Honestly, I will wait for science and leaching tests!
and for a truly, non-monetized scientific voice.
If you are offended by the truth of the testing from the XRF machine, so be it. Facts over feelings. That said, Tamara never said these things were for sure poisoning people, just that they do have lead and other heavy metals in the. She has stated seveal times she hasn’t tested for leaching, just wants to inform people they do contain lead so they can make an informed choice on if they want to continue using these items or not. Some will and some wont but it it’s our right to choose and make our own health and purchasing choices. If that offends you again so be it but you might want to stop and think why that is. Too many people today want to live in their own heads and ignore science.
I was a tupperware rep in my early 20,s…have used it daily…am. now in my 70,s…still using it..& in very good health thank you.
I need to know about the stack microwave cooker that includes lid, collandar, larger & smaller cooking bowls.(burgundy) I use them almost daily. Are they safe? Thank you. L. Hearing in Texas
I have the old yellow Servalier canister set from the seventies does it contain lead
Hi Debora, I have not yet tested any of the canisters – although hope to have some test results for those soon, stand by!
Tamara
Ok, I want to know…if I measure out 1 cup of sugar from one of these Tupperware measuring cups, how much of the lead and how much of the arsenic is transferred to that cup of sugar?
I would like to know the arsenic in ppm, of the wood the Tupperware is sitting on please.
Hi Michael,
All of the backgrounds I test against are pre-tested multiple times and confirmed to be non-detect for all metals.
Tamara
Would the toxic chemicals be from the colourants used in the plastic ? I’m in the UK and people like vintage kitchenware here too, I noticed if I use certain spices even modern plastics become sticky so personally prefer glass ceramic or steel utensils but even they can be risky because of what is used to colour them
Where are your test reports located? Is there a file people can check on what you are reporting?
Hi Pete – the test report is here on this blog. The results are above (the full test results.)
Thanks for commenting.
Tamara
I use the opaque/clear containers with the blue lids for cereals etc. Are these okay? And do I need to throw out my kids old colored Sippy cups with the opaque/clear lids?
Dianne
How old is vintage
Vintage (when you google it) is usually seen as 20+ years old, but not older than 100 years (older than 100 years is considered antique.) However in the case of Tupperware, the company has admitted that pieces made before 2010 contain unsafe levels of BPA, so I would have concerns for any pieces made before 2010 (for BPA, Lead, Cadmium, etc.)
Thank you for commenting!
T
Hi, I have the funnel but never use it with heat. Could it still be dangerous? Used mostly with dry items, I. e. Salt, sugar, etc. All of my Tupperware items are way older than 20 years.
I guess I might have to use my vintage revere ware measuring cups. Any issues with those? Thanks
Hello. Would you he able to point me in the right direction of the research or the testing article that is article is based on. I am interested to see the details and process regarding the test not only the results.
Hi Deb,
The post discusses this fairly thoroughly – have you read the full post? There are links in the post to the methodology. Here’s the best place to start:
https://tamararubin.com/2016/12/ask-tamara-what-do-you-use-to-test-for-lead/
If you want additional information you can research “XRF testing.”
Thanks for commenting.
Tamara Rubin
I encourage you to click through each of the highlighted links in the post – as each offers additional information and background.
I’m really frustrated with this entire post. You’re killing the tupperware business. Yeah yeah, I know you’re going to sit there and say “well it’s killing us”. do you know how the Tupperware it was stored? Do you know where it was stored? What year is this Tupperware from? Because all of our Tupperware that’s made today and over the last 10 maybe 20 years doesn’t have anything in it. It has been tested. So here you are posting this huge post putting the fear of God into everybody who has any Tupperware not only are they throwing up what they have but they’re also no longer purchasing it. next you’re going to be turning around and telling everybody that epicure spices cause cancer. we have no way of knowing how the people that owned this set of extremely old vintage Tupperware plastic measuring cups stored them. because everybody knows that the measuring cups and plastics that were made back in the 70s some even in the 80s had what is called BPA in it. I would like you to turn around purchase a brand new set of Tupperware anyting and do your testing on that because I can guarantee you that led will be showing up in any of the products that are new. you have to remember. For some people Tupperware is their livelihood. Tupperware puts food on the table for their family Tupperware pays their heating bill. and here you are running around the internet and putting all this post up. This poor consulted has lost to customers that were friends with each other because of a post like this. She was a new consultant and didn’t know how to explain to the customer how to reboot this because according to her the customer said that the answer Tupperware had for it wasn’t good enough for her, so thank you for ruining this this woman’s experience is a tupperware consultant. Thank you for putting out there the fear of God for people purchasing Tupperware today. Not 30-40 years ago but today. I can almost guarantee there was some stupid contaminants in the Tupperware freaking 30 or 40 years ago. There was contaminants in everything can 30 40 years ago. Times have changed. Times have changed a hell of a lot of them were from 30-40 years ago. Companies now removing all chemicals from their plastic so that people can live longer and healthier lives. So why would you do this. You shouldn’t be telling us to throw away our vintage Tupperware. What do you consider vintage? Is it from 20 years ago? Is it from 40 years ago? Is it from 30 years ago? You don’t specify so now everybody is panicking and doesn’t know what to do. So now we’re losing customers because of 30-40 year old measuring cups? Thanks a lot
I was a Tupperware consultant and manager and have lots of it! Just because it’s someone’s livelihood doesn’t mean we should be as ostriches with our head in the sand. The coal industry is one example. We should thank anyone who tests items for safety. Let the facts speak for themselves. Don’t be mad at the messenger, Tamara in this case. She didn’t put toxic ingredients in these products. You’re mad at the wrong person. If people would use their heads, they’d know that you shouldn’t put heavy metals in anything, let alone food use products. I feel bad that I can’t pass down my inventory to my daughter, but she won’t use it, due to what she’s read elsewhere. It is sad for us, but it’s not Tamara’s fault.
Thank you Dawn!
She’s not talking about current Tupperware. The pieces she’s talking about are well over 30 years old. I had a lot of these; they were purchased in the 70s, making them over 40 years old. No one is ‘killing the Tupperware business. She’s talking about people who are using vintage pieces.
It is the color concentrate that contained some heavy metals back in the 1960’s. Those have all been banned now. The low density polyethylene (LDPE) and LLDPE plastics resins used in Tupperware never contained any heavy metals.
Toxic heavy metals have been found in these plastics well in to the 1990s (and beyond actually, depending on the product / application.)
Tamara
Teresa, an additional note from my husband Len:
“It is quite common for plastic, vinyl or rubber items to be subjected to lead baths; it is a manufacturing process used to increase the flexibility/pliability of the material (making it more supple/so it can be formed in to molded shapes.)”
Tamara
So even modern plastic plates and cups might be impregnated with lead? This isn’t just an issue for a vintage items?
Teresa,
No, not generally. It is rare to find modern plastic kitchenware items positive for high levels of lead. They are almost always negative. The new plastic also feels different than these vintage plastic items that tend to be leaded. The newer plastic (like you might find in modern plastic plates and cups) is usually harder/stiffer and more brittle than the vintage (more likely leaded) plastics.
On the other hand – I have found many of the black and red rubberized modern plastic handles on utensils (like spatulas) positive for Lead (and even Arsenic) at much lower levels however – like 10 to 40 ppm.
Tamara
Have you posted your tests of the rubberized modern plastic handles anywhere? I’d love the link!
Also, is there any concern for disposable plastic ware, like the red plastic cups people like to use at parties, or plastic utensils?
I’ve wondered a lot about paper plates and paper bowls that have printed patterns on them. Have you ever tested those items?
Have you posted your tests of the rubberized modern plastic handles anywhere? I’d love the link!
Also, is there any concern for disposable plastic ware, like the red plastic cups people like to use at parties, or plastic utensils?
I’ve wondered a lot about paper plates and paper bowls that have printed patterns on them. Have you ever tested those items?
Hi Teresa,
Here is an example of that: https://tamararubin.com/2018/07/leadsafe-2018-new-oxo-goodgrips-silicone-flexible-turner/
Tamara
Thank you for the information.
What about the Tupperware from the early 80’s? I have these measuring cups. But it’s all from 84.
Does this include the clear Tupperware containers or just the colored ones?
I’d like to know this too. I have clear based tupperware with coloured flexible lids.
What about all the rubber spatulas that I use every day?
That is absolutely not true for polyethylene! No plastics processes use lead to bathe. no heavy metals are used in any of the past or current processes to produce the resin itself.
Hi Wendy, your statement is not correct. With regard to the Tupperware specifically the metals were used in the colorants, as a primary components of the colorants or stabilizers of other components of the colorants. The XRF test results clearly demonstrate this as the metal content varies by color.
Tamara
Plastics are colored with pellets that go into the natural plastic resin. Some are pellets, some liquid. So basically just like paint gets tinted with color, so does plastic. I would assume that is where the lead came into the plastic product.
What about the orange ones?
Hi Peggy,
What’s your address? 😉
Tamara
I would like to know the answer to this?
I am curious too! My mom has orange ones
Does this just apply to the measuring cups? Are other items effected as well.?
Hi Donna,
I have tested bowls, cups and measuring cups – as well as a funnel – that have been positive for toxicants. So far the colors of concern are ORANGE, GREEN and YELLOW. I will be doing more testing and reporting soon, on other items and other colors. You can see all of the posts I have written on this subject by clicking here: https://tamararubin.com/category/tupperware/
Thank you for commenting. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Tamara
I have those measuring cups in almond, most likely from the early 80’s. I’d be curious about their lead content. I found that most of the Tupperware items in the 70’s colors have become brittle and broken. That may not have anything to do with the lead but possibly the dyes or manufacturing process made them less durable than other colors. As a Tupperware consultant for over 20 years, I have quite a bit of new old stock in my home and curious about the BPA / Thyroid connection as well. Would just having them in the home cause issues, or would it come from consuming food that was stored in them?
Hi again Ann Marie!
I don’t think just having them in the home would cause issues (like on a shelf, on display), there’s no evidence that they create any dust just sitting on a shelf, so perhaps that’s good.
Tamara
God bless you. Taking the ‘heat’ for exposing things people don’t want to hear is difficult. Have you talked with Suzanne Somers? I got into the clear glass bowls after her bout with a ‘cancer’ scare. I got rid of the yellow tupperware measuring cups just a couple years ago because one got chewed up by a critter and my daughter gave me new ones by Michael Graves from Target (blue)-what to think??
And, God help me, I have dishes by Sango, splash 4951, because they are brown colours, not good?
Again, thanks for fighting for good.
It’s for color. Lead- and cadmium-based pigments were routinely used in plastics well into the 1980s and even later.
Correct. I used to be an engineer that made plastic parts for the medical industry, and lead was found in some of the colorants we wanted to use for our products. We had to test the colors thoroughly before they were ever used.
late 80s they were country blue and mauve pink….I sold TW in the late 80s and sell again now….it is a lot different process now but would still like to see results from new stuff too to make sure what I tell people is accurate….
Tammy- thanks for posting a productive comment. Another person a few comments up saying they sold Tupperwear just seemed to come on to blindy defend it instead of aknowledging production processes change (and hopefully improve) over time. Is there anything about the production process you can share or is that top secret?
I agree; it’d be geat if Tamara can get her hands on modern Tupperwear to test. I’d also like to know if Tupperwear does leach testing now because up in the actual post Tamara mentioned how some readers have asked TW and they appparently didn’t on the vintage pieces, which is why we may want to apply the precautionary principal even more and just avoid use. (Tamara’s link to a reader’s experience with TW https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/comment-from-one-of-my-readers-about-tupperware-that-i-thought-my-other-readers-would-be-interested-in/ )
Hi Erin!Thank you for commenting!
– Tamara
How about the orange drink pitcher and white canisters with pink lids?
Um, I dont cook with my measuring cups? So wheres the harm??
What about any other colors? I have three different sets. I stopped using mixing bowls because making a white cake my mixer was taking red chunks of the bowl off making the cake mix look pink. I hate plastic working on all glass cooking items. Thanks so much for notice.
Hi Kelly,
Thank you for commenting.
So far I have tested YELLOW, ORANGE, GREEN and BROWN. I will be posting test results for the translucent WHITE soon too. Here are the results I have found so far:
YELLOW: https://tamararubin.com/category/yellow-vintage-tupperware/
ORANGE: https://tamararubin.com/category/orange-vintage-tupperware/
GREEN: https://tamararubin.com/category/green-vintage-tupperware/
BROWN: https://tamararubin.com/category/brown-vintage-tupperware/
Tamara
I have apple green ones from late 79’s or early 80’s when I got married ?
Hi Karen,
I don not believe that I have tested any that are that color yet. The only green ones I have tested are more of an olive green, check out this post: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/vintage-tupperware-green-bowl-2780-ppm-lead-234-ppm-arsenic-both-metals-are-poisonous-to-humans/
Tamara
We’ve had a yellow set that looks just like these for forty years. I’m not going to lose any sleep over this revelation, although we will dispose of these and buy new ones.
Hi Eric,
Thank you for commenting. I think that is exactly the right response! 🙂
Tamara
My thoughts are just don’t eat them (the plastic cups). Lead is not like radiation. You are not going to be poisoned by lead if you measure out your flour or chicolate chips with a plastic measuring cup. You are more likely to get diabetes than lead poisoning. Use your mind and think FFS.
Interesting that you mention diabetes, Jeff. You should google the links between diabetes (kidney failure) and lead exposure. And remember – it just takes a microscopic amount of lead to poison a human, more info about that here: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/the-sugar-packet-analogy-how-much-lead-dust-does-it-take-to-poison-a-child/
In the absence of leach testing it is a fact that these have an unsafe level of lead by today’s standards and I would personally set them aside until Tupperware has done testing to confirm they are not a hazard to humans. #FirstDoNoHarm #KnowBetterDoBetter.
Tamara
Thank you! But scare tactics bring in money for the messenger!
I will wait for a scientist to weigh in. Like they do on non-VAXing. evolution and FlatEarthers.
So I have a house full of tuperwear and older too what should be thrown away or sent back what is tuperwear saying
If you have not been to the quality control lab at the factory then you shouldn’t be stating facts here. I have been 3 x.
I grew up using these and am 54 years old and quite fit & healthy. I do not discount findings but scare tactic headliners are a bit extreme – especially considering my friends, friends’ friends, and so on – none of us died from it. It’s a miracle! Hahaha!
Hi Jane,
Lead Poisoning (especially chronic low-level exposure that one might get from items in their home that are used on a regular basis) is not likely to cause a premature death. The list of symptoms exposure like this could cause is fairly lengthy however. Please take a look at this post to start (link) – it lists most of the symptoms of Lead exposure in adults (including early childhood Lead exposure’s impact on adults later in life – adults who were exposed as babies.) https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/what-is-the-impact-of-lead-poisoning-in-adults-including-college-age-students/
My son did not die. My son has a permanent brain injury with a visual memory in the 4th percentile. He is very much alive and a very smart kid, BUT has a host of disabilities and severe chronic conditions that are a direct result of his childhood lead exposure (he had an incident of acute exposure when he was 7 months old.) If you would like to watch my documentary film on the subject (which includes our story and also discusses the impact of lead exposure on adults) you can see it now for free on YouTube:
https://tamararubin.com/2020/04/the-preview-screener-of-my-film-passed-21000-views-on-youtube-this-morning-thank-you-please-keep-sharing-friends/
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara
I have beige Corelle, no pattern from around the eighties. Are they safe without a pattern?
Should I throw out all my TuPperware just to be saf?
Get rid of all pre-2010 Tupperware. Plain, undecorated / unpainted beige Corelle is also generally Lead-free.
T
I have orange measuring cups, as well as canisters in orange. Any concerns there?
Hi Peggy,
I haven’t tested the orange ones yet. One of my readers is sending me a set and I will be posting the test results as soon as they are available.
Tamara
I am curious because my mom had the orange ones too! I think they are circa 1987-ish (because she had a Tupperware party when I was about 1…. And we still have 2 toys from that party my kids play with)…
Oh that’s great info on the possible age / year of manufacture. Thank you for sharing, Whitney!
Tamara
I have had my orange set since 76.
Oh Thanks. Yes – that probably has mercury and cadmium, based on my findings so far.
T
I was married in 72. Got the orange ones shortly after.
I have the cream coloured Tupperware from the 70’s. Is it safe?
Hi Faye,
I have not tested them yet. There’s a chance that they are negative and these toxicants are only present in the yellow ones. I have a few people shipping me more colors to test and I will share the results here on my blog. If you want to be among the first to know, subscribe to my e-mails or RSS feed and you will get an update when I publish those results.
Tamara
I have the canister set of the same plus the measuring cups. Are the canisters toxic too?
I also have the same set and would like to know if they’re safe.
Yes, I’d like to know about the orange ones too, as I still have a set and use them all the time.
Hi Kim!
Thank you for commenting. Stay tuned. I expect to have the orange ones tested this week!
Tamara
Reno
I have the orange ones; received them as a wedding shower gift in 1972, if that helps you date them.
Oh thank you, Reno! That is very helpful. Thank you for commenting.
I was able to get ahold of and test several examples of vintage orange Tupperware pieces and they are also bad. I will be posting the results shortly.
Tamara
I have orange ones! Let me know!!!
I also have the orange cups from the mid 80s and really like them. Following to find out the results. Thank you
Hi Debbie, I tested and posted the results for the orange (vintage) yesterday. These results are equally troubling. Here’s the link: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/another-vintage-tupperware-example-orange-bowl-with-lid-3380-ppm-cadmium-935-ppm-mercury-both-are-poisons-for-humans/
Thank you for commenting!
Tamara
I have the green ones….what about them?
Hi Nina, here you go!
https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/vintage-tupperware-green-bowl-2780-ppm-lead-234-ppm-arsenic-both-metals-are-poisonous-to-humans/
Tamara
This is absolute hogwash! Maybe some plastics contain lead but Authentic Tupperware never has. I suggest you contact Tupperware for an official statement before publishing such lies. Tupperware manufacturing standards exceed safety standards
Hi Laurie,
There were no safety standards for XRF detectable levels of Lead and Arsenic in kitchenware when these were made in the 1970s.
Tamara
Thank you! Someone with some sense! Tupperware has been food safe for generations. Don’t you think if this was a problem or poisonous it would have been found out before now and affected someone by now? Get out of here with this mess!
I completely agree with you. I posted this comment below: You mention multiple times on in a newly manufactured item.
SO did you test a NEW Tupperware product? Or are you testing something that has been used for 50 years and had multiple things in them that could contaminate the test? Where are the scientific tests sheets? Are you a scientist working in a sterile environment for your testing purposes? What qualifications do you have to do this testing?
I have tried to validate these findings, but apparently, she is the ONLY person reporting this. And all links on the blog take you back to her page – no external validation.
Susan,
If you look through the history of my work I have been a pioneer in this. Typically after I discover something then a local scientific organization or nonprofit will do a formal official study and confirm my results. Being the first person to discover something (using scientific methodology as I do) does not invalidate those discoveries.
Please check out this link (from CBS This Morning) about my work discovering Lead in fidget spinners: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fidget-spinners-high-levels-of-lead-consumer-advocacy-organization-report/
Also here is a study that a scientist did about the concern for Lead in glassware, about 8 years after I initially reported the issue: https://tamararubin.com/2017/11/decorated-glassware/
And here (more relevant to the Tupperware concern) is a study about toxicants found in vintage plastic toys, a study done about 7 years after I discovered this to be a concern: https://www.neha.org/sites/default/files/publications/jeh/JEH-JanFeb2015-Vintage-Toys.pdf
Just because I am a pioneer in this work, does not make findings inaccurate or untrue. Please share that with the Tupperware community.
Tamara
I have not asked Tupperware about lead, but 10 years ago I called them to inquire about BPA. They said they couldn’t say for sure that it didn’t contain BPA and that if I was uncomfortable about it they suggested that I use something else. That was enough of a confirmation for me that it did.
Vintage Tupperware is NOT food safe! Since back in the day, many of these Tupperware products were – and still are – used for food storage, food serving and, often, in the microwave, the contamination by BPA, Phthalates, and other plastic by-products is as significant as the metals contamination that Tama is documenting. The risk of exposure increases with the age and wear on the product. See the CDC list of known toxicants https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/chemical_factsheets.html
Tama’s reports just highlight the need for all of us to become informed about the health hazards we are exposed to every day! My health and that of my family is my priority.
Thank-you for you advocacy, Tama!
Thank you so much for commenting, Judith!
Tamara
Many things have changed in manufacturing as companies discover how to do things differently and better for all. I suggest anyone really concerned contact Tupperware and let them give you complete information. As the world evolves we find many things that are now considered dangerous or toxic … that is when things change for the better. ‘Vintage items’ from many manufacturing companies have probably changed as I am sure Tupperware has. Perhaps that is why they say “This Is not your mother’s Tupperware”!
Thank you so much for this constructive and positive comment, Connie!
Have a terrific day.
Tamara
I totally agree. Tupperware issues an official statement that “unless you eat/ingest a full cup of the measuring set that is one of their older colored items (specifically from the 70s and early 80s era) you will not be exposed to enough lead to even harm a small animal such as rodent. As for the aresenic scare, a person would have to ingest 4 full sets to be at a risk. For people that have these items and have small children that chew on them, as always, Tupperware will replace that item. Once again it has to be an item such as measuring cups that are made from that specific era that contains a dye pigment. We have no idea who or why someone started this needless, harmful,and untrue report against Tupperware, but this is serious slander and legal action will be taken.” I urge you to tell all the facts and not put people into panic mode. As Tupperware stated I would beware of what I posted without ALL the facts.
Hello Melanie,
As I said in response to your earlier comment, I am glad they have issued a public statement confirming my findings of the presence of toxicants (including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury and Arsenic) in their vintage products. I look forward to seeing it. If you have access to it please email it to me at: TamaraRubin@mac.com.
Given there are current federal regulations about the levels of these toxicants that are considered unsafe and illegal, I do not agree with any statements that might diminish the concern for the levels that have been found in these products – as the levels found are (in most cases) many times the toxicity levels allowed by the current federal regulations intended to protect children (and humans in general) and government agencies across the world (not just the United States) agree that the levels of toxicants found are unsafe.
My statements were neither untrue nor harmful, just factual.
If in fact Tupperware issued a public statement (which I look forward to reading) my statements of my (very true) finding, served as an impetus for them to do the right thing to protect their customers by offering free replacement product in exchange for their toxic items. This is a terrific outcome for my work, and really – the ideal outcome.
Tamara
I am surprised at this. I was a TW dealer in the 70s and 80s. Much of the plastic used to mold these peices were manufactured by a petroleum based company outside my hometown in West Tx. The Tupperware home company based in Florida was always very helpful and transparent with any questions concerning product safety.
Hi Janet,
At the time they did not really have the technology for testing for toxicants that we do now. It is only in the past 15-20 years that hand-held XRF instruments for testing consumer goods have been available (and accurate), and even now in 2019 the instruments with the software specifically designed for testing consumer goods are rare (it is generally very difficult to find someone who has an instrument for this kind of testing as the instruments sell for about $50,000 new.) As a result it is possible they were not aware of the presence of these toxicants at these levels at the time of manufacture.
Tamara
So you bought a $50,000 piece of machinery to test measuring cups?
Hi Karen,
No. I rent it – or borrow it.
I WANT to buy a $50,000 instrument to test measuring cups, but I am not in a position to do so! 😉 LOL!
Tamara
What about the colored bowls withe clear and colored lids?
$50,000 is actually a low-cost budget item to a reputable laboratory. Many instrumentations cost upwards of $250,000 or more. I. My career I have not only operated these pieces of equipment, but also been involved in purchase decisions. For an individual, the cost of $50K is daunting, but to utilize a third-party reputable laboratory is not inexpensive. From what supporting entity does Tamara receive financial backing?
Hi A.G.
I am a low-income mother of Lead-Poisoned disabled children.
I receive financial backing from you. My friends, fans, followers and readers. 95% of these people are other mothers, many are other mothers of disabled children. Folks usually donate $5 or $10 at a time. Some donate more. Here’s my GoFundMe.http://www.GoFundMe.com/LeadSafeMama
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara
I have a set of these from the 70’s but in white or clear. Are they also dangerous or does it have to do with the yellow coloring?
Hi Brenda!
I am not sure yet, since I have not tested all of the colors. I have some folks sending me examples of the other colors for testing and I will report back here on this post with links to the results (and will make sure to tag you in a comment too!)
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara.
I have all kinds of Tupperware since the 70’s. Shouldn’t I be dead by now?
Hi Sandra,
Thank you for commenting.
Chronic exposure to low-levels of toxicants on a daily basis won’t generally cause death. There are however quite a few symptoms and medical conditions that have been well studied and found to be associated with lead exposure that you may not be aware of (health conditions that many Americans suffer from for which the cause is often a “mystery” because blood lead testing is very rarely done in adults).
This is a good post with more information about that: https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/what-is-the-impact-of-lead-poisoning-in-adults-including-college-age-students/
Tamara
Thanks so much.
Do you know if other yellow TW products are toxic? I use the yellow colander all the time! It was purchased around the late 80’s.
Hi Mary,
I do not know for sure, but is very very possible. In my experience in testing vintage plastic items, the color is often a determining factor for Lead – not always, but often. I would expect other yellow ones of the same era to have a similar toxicant profile. Thank you for commenting. I hope to be testing and reporting on more examples soon.
Tamara
Except, how would you ingest the lead from the colander? If you could the colander up and ate it, I could understand. Lead paint hurts kids when they eat flakes of paint or chew the paint off. I don’t see how Tupperware could be ingested.
Does Tupperware offer any kind of a warrantee on these products as I thought they had a lifetime warrantee n them of being toxic free of metals etc?
Hi Christine,
That’s a great question. Someone else mentioned that on Facebook. If that’s the case I think it would a blast to return these to the company En Masse, and ask them to do extensive testing on their vintage products and publicly alert the purchasers of all of these vintage items (on both ETSY and EBAY and through other means of contacting people with a public notice) of the related hazards. That would be an amazing and responsible thing for them to do (a virtual recall for products 40 years after they were made!) and would set an example for companies everywhere on how to do the right thing! 🙂 Here’s hoping!
Tamara
I’m confused by some of these comments. The FDA began enforcing limits on leachable lead in 1971. They certainly had ways of testing for this… And that’s the important thing here – whether it’s leaching or not.
Hi John,
This post is about total Lead content as decidable with an XRF. That is very different than leachable Lead.
The CPSC regulations for children’s items (the most recent regulations on consumer goods and Lead, that are – in fact – the first regulatory standard that is approaching being reasonably protective of children’s health) has set standards that ALL consumer goods regulations SHOULD be set at.
This is ESPECIALLY TRUE for consumer goods used in food preparation and food consumption. Why does a toy have to be under 90 ppm Lead in the coating (as detectable with an XRF instrument), but the dish a child eats dinner off of does not have that strict a standard? [Or the baby bottle for that matter – did you see my recent post about a Lead painted baby bottle – brand new? 2018 product!: https://tamararubin.com/2019/02/another-baby-bottle-with-lead-paint-nuk-glass-bottle-19900-ppm-lead-why-are-regulatory-agencies-ignoring-this-issue/
The current limited federal standards around Lead in dishware (or any food serving product) and lead in cookware are woefully lax and inadequate – and barely enforceable (AND almost never enforced) given the current global economy for distribution of consumer goods (you can easily order product shipped directly to you from China via Amazon, and no one inspects those consumer goods that are shipped direct-to-consumer for toxicants violations!)
Tamara
I have several sets of varying colors. red is my go to, as that’s a complete set. for the short period of time that say flour or sugar is in them, how much lead could one be infected with if it’s just a scoop and dump?
I have so much vintage that is still in use, I would imagine most things aren’t up to today’s “standards”; although they are better made and made to last, unlike the junk of today.
thanks for your research, I’d be interested in seeing the research on the other colors.
If they’re hazardous where are we supposed to dispose of them??
Hi Laura,
Thank you for commenting. Here’s my post with the answer to that question: https://tamararubin.com/2013/11/what-should-i-do-with-my-lead-contaminated-dishes-to-toss-or-not-to-toss/
Tamara
Send them to me!
My mom was a Tupperware lady back in the 70s-80s. She has the green measuring cups, yellow colander, and semi-transparent white canisters, plus all sorts of spoons and ladles and whatnot.I inherited the daffodil yellow flour and sugar canisters.
Is it the yellow color or a widespread problem in the manufacturing of that era of Tupperware?
Hi Jennifer!
Thank you for commenting. I don’t know yet if it is a wider-spread problem (beyond the vintage yellow of this era) – but I will be testing more soon and hope to have an answer to that question. With plastics (as with the vintage Fisher Price toys I have tested), the toxicants seem only to be present in certain colors (so that’s a theory and we can see if it will be supported with additional testing.) You can take a look at some of the vintage Fisher Price items I have tested here: https://tamararubin.com/category/vintage-fisher-price/
Tamara
I worked for a paint company in the late 60s and early 70s, when manufacturers were forced to remove/reduce the lead levels in paint. Yellow colorant was the biggest problem when the lead was removed. You could not get yellow to cover anything anymore – and as it happened, I was trying to paint my kitchen yellow. Six layers later, I gave up and used a different color. I have no way of knowing for sure, but based on my paint experience, I’m thinking the yellow is going to be the real problem color.
Hi Sue!
Thank you for your excellent comment! Yellow plastics have definitely been a problem (from that same era!)
Tamara
I have tons of whitish-opaque TW for the freezer from the late 1980’s. My concern is that their lids are gold coloured. Have you you had an opportunity to test these lids?
Thank you for all the positive work you do; you are an unsung hero in my opinion. People tend to be naive and think profit-motivated companies put consumer safety first. Deny, deny, deny is their modus operandi.
I have several TW storage containers and bowls I purchased back in 1989 or 1990 are they toxic also?
Hi Elizabeth,
I haven’t tested enough examples of these vintage pieces to make any broader conclusions. I will be testing more soon though. Keep an eye here on this blog.
Thank you for commenting!
Tamara
I quit using tupperware a long time ago because of the BPAs present in their products. It doesn’t suprise me that they would have other hazards in their products.
As far as I have been told Tupperware has been BPA free for many, many years.
Hi Marsha,
Thank you for commenting. Yes – I heard this too. A Tupperware sales person mentioned that this has been since 2010.
Tamara
How and where do u dispose of such items
Hi Teri!
Thank you for commenting. Here’s my post about that (whether or not to throw out items that contain toxicants): https://tamararubin.com/2013/11/what-should-i-do-with-my-lead-contaminated-dishes-to-toss-or-not-to-toss/
Legally, as a consumer, you are usually allowed to dispose of items like this in your household trash.
Tamara
All Tupperware products are BPA free. And they have been for many years. I take this with a grain of salt. Arsenic is found in apple juice, but no one is stopping that from being produced. Tupperware has been above standards since day 1. Tamara I highly recommend you call tupperware with these findings and get some solid answers about your findings. There are over 100,000 people in the US and Canada making a living selling these top of the line products, and misleading posts like this are very hurtful.
Hi Jessica,
This information has no bearing on new products, it is only relevant to the old / vintage products (it looks like products from 40+ years ago). There were not relevant standards for toxicity testing at the time these were manufactured, so the fact that they followed the standards at the time has no bearing on whether or not they contain toxicants. This is the same for vintage Pyrex, vintage Corning, vintage Corelle, etc.
Tamara
Tupperware released a statement that if it was truly a Tupperware item from the 70s early 80s era that contained dye pugments, that they would replace for free. I urge you to read Tupperware’s public statement first
Hi Melanie,
Thank you for commenting.
I received a few messages about this this morning (Friday, 3/15/2019) but have not been able to find their public statement online (I looked on their website and on their Facebook page.) Can you share it with me?
I’m excited to hear they are confirming my test results by virtue of issuing this statement and taking responsibility in a way that is protective of children’s health – by offering free replacement items.
The only part of this that is frustrating is that there is no year marking on the bottoms of any of the pieces I have found, so I don’t know how the average consumer can determine which years their pieces were made (I haven’t been able to find a guide to that online.) Any info on that point would also be much appreciated. My email address is TamaraRubin@mac.com.
Tamara
Could you please share more about your testing methodology? For instance, how many sets of these did you sample? Was the test preformed on the surface of the sample, which may have been exposed to lead or arsenic in the 40 years since they were manufactured? Were the results independently lab verified or otherwise peer reviewed? I’m sure you wouldn’t release results based on a single sample.
I have a set of these in green. I guess I need to stop using them
Hi Angie,
Thank you for commenting. My advice would be to stop using them for now (perhaps just set them aside). I am working on collecting more samples of vintage Tupperware in different colors and will be reporting those test results here on this blog when I have them. It is possible that some colors contain these heavy metal toxicants when others do not. I have not done thorough testing yet for anything but the yellow (& specifically the vintage yellow measuring cups pictured here in this post.)
Thank you again.
Tamara
I also have the green, and the measuring spoons and canister set that they came with, I use them all the time for sugar, flour and coffee
Hi Dixie,
Here’s the test results for one example of the green: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/vintage-tupperware-green-bowl-2780-ppm-lead-234-ppm-arsenic-both-metals-are-poisonous-to-humans/
Tamara
Could you allow various liquids like water and vinegar to sit in the cup for 5 or 10 minutes and see if the liquid leaches?
I get that kids shouldn’t chew on the damn things. I am just wondering if there is any realistic exposure from 30 years of using them.
Hi Marcie,
Leach testing could be done. I think it is important do do leach testing on vintage/older products even if leach testing was done (and the products were found to be safe) at the time of manufacture. I don’t think leach testing at the time of manufacture is relevant with forty years of deterioration and wear on a product (if the testing was done at all). I discuss that here: https://tamararubin.com/topics/does-vintage-and-new-functional-pottery-and-dishware-have-unsafe-levels-of-lead/
While the post linked above specifically discusses long-term leaching considerations in pottery, I would have the same considerations for vintage plastic.
I personally don’t do any leach testing – but I think it would be great if the company would consider taking it up on their own (to do leach testing on their vintage products) – especially given the longevity of their product line and the huge devotion of their brand following.
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara
You mention multiple times on in a newly manufactured item.
SO did you test a NEW Tupperware product? Or are you testing something that has been used for 50 years and had multiple things in them that could contaminate the test? Where are the scientific tests sheets? Are you a scientist working in a sterile environment for your testing purposes? What qualifications do you have to do this testing?
Hi Tina,
You can read more about the testing I do on the links below:
One post: https://tamararubin.com/2016/12/ask-tamara-what-do-you-use-to-test-for-lead/
Another post: https://tamararubin.com/xrf/
A third post: https://tamararubin.com/2017/07/subscribe-in-support-of-my-advocacy-work-you-can-become-eligible-to-send-in-a-box-of-your-things-for-testing/
Here’s a link to my certification as well: https://tamararubin.com/2017/09/certificate/
Tamara
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara
So you took a one day course, on how to use the Niton XRF analyizer and got a certificate, that isnt a qualification for scientific purposes, so I call BS on this whole article.
She has been performing this type of testing for years now. I’m fairly certain that learning how to use an instrument and performing routine analysis with it for years more than qualifies her to do this testing. Sterile conditions are not required for use of an XRF.
You notice she did not answer any of my questions. Taking a one day course on how to use a analyizer doesnt make you a professional or scientific specialist. As she stated in her article it needs to be done on a new product, she did it on a 50 year old USED product.
Tina dear,
Here is the testing done on a new (unused) product: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/another-vintage-tupperware-example-orange-bowl-with-lid-3380-ppm-cadmium-935-ppm-mercury-both-are-poisons-for-humans/
Thank you for commenting.
Are you a Tupperware sales person? Why are you trying to defend 50 year old products? Most vintage kitchenware has toxicants. It’s just a fact.
Tamara
An xrf scan is not the same thing as a lead test. If a xrf scan fails protocol calls for a lead then, substrate test or even a phthalates test. I’m with you Tina … I call BS too !!!
Hello Athena,
The XRF I use is specifically designed for testing consumer goods for Lead (and other metals), and the instrument is set up with software to do consumer goods testing accurately and effectively. Here is a piece from CBS This Morning about the work I did finding Lead in Fidget Spinners (back in 2017) – this might give you a better sense of the testing I do and the legitimacy of these test results: https://tamararubin.com/2017/11/cbs/
Tamara
Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssss!
As a Tupperware consultant and a kid who grew up with these products, I am totally offended by this post. This woman is no scientist.
If my company’s products were poisoning people with lead all these years, we would have heard about it LOOOOOOONG ago!
I am SO TIRED OF THIS POST!
Hi Denise,
Here is my response to Susan earlier today. Hopefully it helps. Please know that you don’t need to follow this post. No one has asked you to, and you are invited to spend your time elsewhere.
If you truly are curious about this inquiry read my response to Susan:
Susan,
If you look through the history of my work I have been a pioneer in this. Typically after I discover something then a local scientific organization or nonprofit will do a formal official study and confirm my results. Being the first person to discover something (using scientific methodology as I do) does not invalidate those discoveries.
Please check out this link (from CBS This Morning) about my work discovering Lead in fidget spinners: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fidget-spinners-high-levels-of-lead-consumer-advocacy-organization-report/
Also here is a study that a scientist did about the concern for Lead in glassware, about 8 years after I initially reported the issue: https://tamararubin.com/2017/11/decorated-glassware/
And here (more relevant to the Tupperware concern) is a study about toxicants found in vintage plastic toys, a study done about 7 years after I discovered this to be a concern: https://www.neha.org/sites/default/files/publications/jeh/JEH-JanFeb2015-Vintage-Toys.pdf
Just because I am a pioneer in this work, does not make findings inaccurate or untrue. Please share that with the Tupperware community.
Tamara
You are RIGHT! I don’t have to follow your post, but I want to stop this. I have contacted my Regional Director and The President of my company. Have you contacted Tupperware for an official statement???
Don’t you think if our products were dangerous, we would have been called out LONG before now?
MANY generations have grown up and OLD with our products and the are JUST FINE!
Hi Denise,
Thank you for commenting.
I think it is terrific that (apparently) Tupperware has issued some sort of public statement acknowledging my test results (and the presence of toxicants in their vintage products) and offering to exchange them for new toxicant-free products. I have not yet seen this public statement but would love to share it here on my blog. If you have a copy you could send me I would truly appreciate it. My email is TamaraRubin@mac.com.
I did contact them via Facebook messenger – however have not heard back yet and have not been able to find this public statement posted anywhere online.
In the meantime to see all of the posts I have up right now related to Tupperware, click this link (I currently have 6 posts with product test results up on the blog); https://tamararubin.com/category/tupperware/
Tamara
Tamara
Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the subject if lead in products! I always enjoy your articles! 🙂 Keep up the good work, and thank you for everything you do!
Thank you for commenting Miranda!
– Tamara
Mine are orange…and yes from the 70’s. I guess I can assume the Orange ones are also full of it? I also have a yellow Tupperware sieve.
Just thought. But gave you bothered to follow up with Tupperware on your findings? Maybe someone used that particular set of measuring cups in a shop of some sort that used those chemical which contaminated them to begin with and not be contaminated from the source. Seems irresponsible to put this out there with no back up data, especially in this day and age where Facebook posts go viral with no credibility.
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for commenting. The levels of Lead and arsenic found in these products could not be from (for example) contamination from Leaded water (etc.). Water is toxic for Lead in PPB (Parts Per BILLION), and it is not possible for that sort of exposure to imbue the product with toxicant levels at the levels found in the testing I did.
Since I posted this original post, I found a brand-spanking-new-condition [with a tag bearing the words, “NEVER USED”(!)] set of vintage Tupperware dishes, in yellow, green, orange, brown and white plastics — and they too tested positive for similar levels of toxicants. I will be posting this results shortly.
Tamara
Wow, s if a mutl billion dollar company wouldn’t test their products, “because they wouldn’t spend $50,000 on the piece of equipment for such testing… who is to say THIS SET of yellow measuring cups haven’t been sitting in the dump somewhere and someone sent them to you.. HOW MANY have you actually tested to prove your findings? I would SUGGEST that you contact Tupperware with YOUR so called findings for them to prove YOU wrong. You may be getting yourself into a big lawsuit here.
Oh and the person that said she’s gotten rid of all her Tupperware products because they have BPA in them….wow have YOU ever been misled on that one. Get your information straight and quit putting words in other peoples minds about the best PLASTIC Products ever made history.
Again…your findings one one set of yellow Tupperware measuring cups doesn’t prove anything…especially since they’ve been sitting somewhere for 40 years.
Hi Eva,
I am sorry that you are so upset about these test results. Thank you for commenting.
At the time these products were manufactured the technology of the $50,000 instrument did not exist in a form that was readily available to manufacturers.
Since I posted this original post I have tested a full set of never used dishes in a range colors (orange, yellow, green, brown and white) with similar results. I was especially excited to see this set in brand-new never used condition (with a sign on it that said “never used.”) I will be posting those results shortly.
Stand by.
Tamara
I have the white with gray speckles, are they also toxic?
Hi Bart,
Thank you for commenting. I haven’t tested those yet. I will be posting here on my blog when I do.
Tamara
I have the white salt and pepper shakers I have used for 30 some years, are they safe?
My mother has the yellow square looking container and lid. Are those okay. They are from the 70’s.
Tamara, is it also an issue with the yellow measuring spoons and yellow cannisters from the 70’s? Thank you for your response! I have all 3 sets still and have grandchildren so will want to dispose of all if so!
Can we send you stuff to test? I have a ton of vintage kitchen appliances. I collect them actually.
And as for the people saying “ugh, how dare you say Tupperware has lead. What are your credentials? I’m flabbergasted. This is a lie”
IGNORE THEM.
The FDA/government also doesnt tell them they are being poisoned with basic table sugar. And they wouldnt believe it even if you told them.
Hey Mart! I’m not affiliated with Tamara, I just happened to be scrolling through the comments. Here is her link for sending her items. I hope this helps!
https://tamararubin.com/2017/07/subscribe-in-support-of-my-advocacy-work-you-can-become-eligible-to-send-in-a-box-of-your-things-for-testing/
Tupperware is about to get manifold lawsuits for making these products with that much lead, arsenic and possibly other chemicals in that high of a concentration.
And please, Tupperware, don’t tell us no one knew about it.
How about the Tupperware measuring spoons from the same era. I will be getting rid of my measuring cups.& also Fisher Price garage & people that has seen 2 generations and in good condition was waiting for the next generation.
Great job! Glad someone NOT in the plastics industry or home party plastics sales teams is doing this testing. I see 2 almost identically worded angry posts… suspect cut and paste given to them.
We ALL know or should know testing was not done, or was not done same way, or done with as good testing as today compared to 100/70/60/50/30 years ago. Things from the 70s are around 50 years old! Many an EDIBLE food or other products have been recalled because of NEW measurements, findings or acceptable levels. Allowable levels are constantly being decreased…. and there must be a reason. New research everyday is finding reasons/links to health issues. Why is BPA now such a scare but wasn’t 50 years ago?….. and why would “they have allowed this?” because we learn more/science learns more everyday. Just look at tobacco industry -what was allowed to inhale into your lungs. So this is completely believable and for me and my family, enough to add it to the little things I can do to make them safer.
Maybe the leaching is “age related” but that doesn’t matter… the fact that it occurs does.
“Are you a scientist?” Nope, and neither was Erin Brockovich. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!! from a non relative, friend, acquaintance, supplier or contributor. ❤️
Roberta, thank you so much for this terrific comment!
Tamara
I have these and some other old tupperware . Is it just the yellow color or just the measuring cups in yellow. I have a strainer and a set of 3 storage containers in that bright yellow color
Hi Tamara,
Have you posted your tests of rubberized modern plastic handles anywhere? You wrote that you found lead in them.
Is there any concern for disposable plastic ware, like the red plastic cups people like to use at parties, or plastic spoons, forks, and knives ?
Also, I’ve wondered a lot about paper plates and paper bowls that have printed patterns on them. Have you ever tested those items?
Hi Teresa,
Yes – there should be several examples of the rubberized handled kitchen utensils up on the site. Use the index to look at the different items I have tested, there are over 1,600 posts: https://tamararubin.com/2018/01/a-new-idea-an-index-for-leadsafemama-com/
Disposable modern plastics are not generally a Lead-concern, and neither are modern paper plates (or similar picnic ware). My preferred choice is the wooden compostable ones (plus my bunny likes to chew on them too!): https://amzn.to/2F6PKBM (aflink).
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara
Oh good Lord. People have been using these since before I was born in ’55. And not one has had any problems from using these either.
Amazing to me that there are so many things actually wrong in the world around us, and you pick TUPPERWARE?
All the good causes taken? Had to scrounge for a cause to get your knickers in a twist about?
Get a grip and grow up.
Hi Melanie,
I do consumer goods toxicity testing because my children have permanent brain damage from being acutely lead poisoned as babies.
Tamara
From Tupperware? What products do you blame for permanent brain damage from lead poisoning?
I feel if you are going to print/post these warnings, then you also should post proof of people using Tupperware who have lead poisoning and how they are being treated.
If a set of 45/50 year old measuring cups has been used, gone through thousands of dishwasher cycles, how could they possibly still be leaching lead or anything else? Your post seems to be lacking in follow up, and real life proof.
JMO.
Hi Susy,
Please read the full article, as your questions are answered in the article. Thank you.
Tamara
Not one that you’ve personally heard of. Regulations are made from the blood of those who have been harmed.
New regulations or more strict standards are created because of work like Tamara’s that find concerns. That’s partly how ASTM functions: Continued research to find safer manufacturing processes.
Since this particular article is about vintage products, the levels make sense. If these levels were the same for new products, then there would be even more concern to raise the issue with TW (or any company) so they have the opportunity to do better. As commented prior, BPA levels are one example where TW has done better (particularly because of the required regulations). If you’d like to send Tamara a 2017/2018/2019 variation, I’m sure she’d be happy to see what the results are (https://tamararubin.com/2017/07/subscribe-in-support-of-my-advocacy-work-you-can-become-eligible-to-send-in-a-box-of-your-things-for-testing/).
Why shouldn’t we encourage companies to go above and beyond the base requirements of being compliant to keep their consumers actually safe?
Full transparency, I am not an affiliate of Tamara’s, but I am a product safety consultant for artisans. We do go through similar requirements for things as “easy” as clothing an toys. I teach them the base regulations and how to go above and beyond to make sure their products can be truly safe and not just compliant.
Tamara, you are a crackpot spreading BS. If these products were really bad it would be all over the news. Get a life.
Dear “Fake News”
This one will be fun to read in the video of angry comments that I plan on making. Thank you for contributing to the crazy!
Tamara
If they are from 1970, and they tested positive for these high lead levels, how high was the lead to begin with?? Like I don’t think this is real y’all and if it is, I don’t think the lead in the plastic is harming you, because if it was my 100 year old grandma and her 95 year old husband would be dead from lead poisoning.
Keep up the good work Tamara! Thanks to you I have gotten rid of my vintage Pyrex dishes and I’m so happy I don’t have any vintage Tupperware. I do have a set of Tupperware bowls I bought probably about 15-20 years ago, but I mostly use them for food storage in the fridge. I find your work so fascinating. That “Fake News” comment was hilarious! They’re THE Fake News to watch out for!!! LOL!!!! I found out about you about two weeks ago and have subscribed to your posts and even “I” have been accused of being “OBSESSED” with lead in products and “who cares” from a family member on Facebook. That comment did bother me, but I know these things are important for our kids and the environment and even ourselves. Keep on doing what you do best. I can’t wait to watch your documentary. Do you know if it will show on Netflix? Or where will it be shown? I’ll share it on Facebook when I find out. Thanks again for your hard work!
I don’t understand why people are getting so upset over your findings. I’m pretty sure they’ve never even heard of an XRF instrument for them to be asking if it was tested in a sterile environment. And one person saying grow up?!? Is Tamara acting immature by testing products that people send her?!? I would think saying get a grip and grow up is immature. I have a feeling this link was shared in a Tupperware group page and here come all the Tupperware soldiers saying how dare you! Lol So I’m guessing all these Tupperware soldiers are physicists, neurosurgeons, or people with crazy high IQs. That’s what low levels of lead exposure does… lowers IQ. It won’t kill you but are you as smart as you could’ve been, maybe… maybe not if you were exposed.
If you don’t believe this to be true then keep it moving. But for those of us trying to protect our children, I appreciate you tamara.
Thank you!
my mom is pitching whatever she can find from that time period. She pulled out our sugar container (brown) today to show me. Would you want to test it? It’s early/mid 80’s vintage. I’ll have her ship it to you and anything else she’s got if you want it. 🙂
Can we start a gofundme for one of the fancy 50K XRF testers for you?? I mean it seems like a no brainer…. 😉
Hi Meredith! Thank you so much.
The GoFundMe that I have set up is ostensibly to help me buy my own instrument too, but it hasn’t raised enough and the $ raised so far has gone towards my legal team to date: http://www.GoFundMe.com/LeadSafeMama.
Take a look at this brown one I posted tonight (it was the only color that was negative for toxicants) – if it is a similar color your mom might want to keep that piece until I test a few more examples to see if there are batch variations (although I would love to test more examples if she wants to send it anyway): https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/vintage-tupperware-brown-bowl-negative-for-lead-cadmium-mercury-and-arsenic/
I have now posted 6 different vintage Tupperware examples on my blog, and only one (the brown one) did not have one or more of the main four toxicants I look for (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium or Arsenic.)
If you have examples of other pieces that are different than the ones I have already tested (so I can test those and put the results on my blog) that would be terrific. The biggest problem with these things is that the exact year of manufacture cannot be determined by the piece, so I would definitely love to test some pieces where the owner knowns the year they bought them (so we can pinpoint the years of concern a little more specifically.)
Thank you again for offering to help support my work in this way.
My shipping address (if you have any pieces you want to send me for testing):
Tamara Rubin
Lead Safe Mama
7933 SE 15th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97202
– Tamara
So glad you posted this. Hopefully now everyone will donate their Tupperware to Goodwill for me to scoop up! I love retro Tupperware, and it’s a much better product than the flimsy plastics manufactured today that you can’t ever get spaghetti sauce out of.
Not ture
Not true
Not true
You are wrong, wrong, wrong
🙂
Quit supporting this bad science
Just dont put anything acidic in them, such as citrus or tomato products. This causes the lead to leach out into the food.
Hi Juanita,
Thank you for commenting. My concern is also around the specific potential for them to be played with and used by children who might chew on them or otherwise put them in their mouths – especially given the levels found are so much higher than the current federal legal allowable limits for toys for children.
Tamara
Love your work! I just threw away these exact measuring cups!
I tried e-mailing you but the e-mail on your contact page came back as undeliverable?
I wanted to let you know I featured you and linked back to your site in my most recent post (http://themodernmindfulmom.com/is-it-safe-for-babies-to-chew-on-keys/)
Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much for commenting – and for sharing about my work.
I will update the e-mail on my site. The correct email is: TamaraRubin@mac.com.
Tamara
Love your work! I just threw away these exact measuring cups!
I tried e-mailing you but the e-mail on your contact page came back as undeliverable?
I just wanted to let you know I featured you and linked back to your site in my most recent post.
Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much! Thank you for commenting too.
My correct email (until my website gets updated!) is TamaraRubin@mac.com!
Tamara
Have you tested the crock pots form the 70’s? When I was working for a county agency several years ago, we had a number of lead testing kits mostly used to test toys. However , a few people brought crock pots (the old ones with orange or yellow or gree outside colors) , and they tested positive for lead. I threw mine out without testing.
Hi yes, I have tested many crock pots – and the older they are the more lead they have (generally!)
Here is the Crock Pot category on my blog: https://tamararubin.com/category/crockpot/
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara
Your testing was not the 1st testing done on Tupperware and your name was not mentioned anywhere in the study. Once again, it was from concetned citizens that contacted Tupperware regarding BPA and the paint pellets used back in the 70s and early 80s era. Tupperware was forth coming and shared all their findings.They stated multiple times that if people sent their “older era items, they would replace those items with newer, safer coloreless items but return items to people that did not meet qualufications. It was easy to Google the study . All I did was google Tupperware and looked through all the articles. Without searching again and losing this post, the post originated in 2009.so DEFINITELY not based on your testing…
How fast is this lead leching out. If you are just using them for the time of measurement, how does it have time to poison a person. Sounds a little like hysteria to me.
Hi Judy,
Thank you for commenting.
From the post above: “While there may not be a single incident of Lead poisoning (or Arsenic poisoning for that matter) that can be traced to a kitchen item like this (because that is a difficult thing to track and study, given how many potential sources of toxicants can be found in our lives – in many things we use every day), with multiple toxicants present, at the levels found here, there is no defensible reason to save items like this and use them for food use purposes — when there are inexpensive toxicant-free alternatives readily available today in nearly every store that sells kitchen goods (and nearly every grocery store for that matter).
The concern to consider is not so much “whether or not these specific cups might be poisoning you” but more along the lines of “what are the potential sources of environmental toxicity in our lives [sources that together can create an aggregate negative impact on our health] and what simple things we can do to eliminate possible exposure sources, giving our families (and especially our children and our grandchildren) a better chance at a healthier life.”
Tamara
mine are beige and are from the mid 90’s, I believe… are they okay?
Hi Sandy,
Thank you for commenting. I haven’t yet tested any that are that color so I can’t say for sure. I have seen Lead in plastics products manufactured through at least the early 1990s – so I wouldn’t even want to make an educated guess without testing some examples first.
Tamara
NONSENSE – I won’t even!!
This woman’s claims are unproven. Her ‘tests’ are performed in her kitchen, which is not a sterile environment and are not done scientifically. She is a blogger out here on the net to make money, of which there are a dime a dozen. When people make these type of alarmist claims, it would be best to go by the wise old adage: “Don’t believe everything you hear and only half of what you see”. If this was indeed a true scientific fact, the population would have been made well aware of the dangers by now from reputable scientific laboratories.
I would fact check all her ‘chicken little, sky-is-falling’ claims, before I swallow them hook, line and sinker.
Hi again “S. Topaz”.
My tests are not done in my kitchen and the background surfaces that I use for testing are always tested first to confirm they are free of metals and won’t influence the test results at all.
My total business income (looking at a cash basis) for 2018 was about <$12,000>, so while I would LIKE to make money for the work I do full time, with net income of “negative twelve thousand dollars” in one year, I am not quite there.
Per the press release that I posted yesterday, your sentiment is a common refrain (“Wouldn’t we all know about this already?”). However please realize the reason I am the only one doing this research is NOT because this research is wrong or incorrect in any way, it is because no company benefits financially from doing this research: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/press-release-toxicants-lead-cadmium-mercury-arsenic-found-in-vintage-tupperware/
My work is not “a dime a dozen” there is, in fact, no other fully independent consumer watch dogs doing what I do. This is one of the reasons I have won two awards from the Federal government for my fully independent lead poisoning prevention advocacy work and consumer goods testing.
I wonder why you are so angry about my findings that you feel the need to spam these multiple comments on my posts? Are you an antique dealer perhaps? Do you sell vintage stuff on e-bay? Curious.
Tamara
What are you actually testing? Do you swab the plastic? Soak it in a solvent? Are you doing headspace analysis? Are you grinding up the actual plastic? Curious to know.
Hi Andy,
Thank you for commenting!
Here’s a post about the type of testing I do (specifically XRF testing of intact consumer goods): https://tamararubin.com/2016/12/ask-tamara-what-do-you-use-to-test-for-lead/
Tamara
You probably shouldn’t encourage children to chew on them. But if this isn’t the premier example of White Person Problem (considering the on going situation in Flint) I can’t imagine what would be.
Hi Tamara thank you for the info. I have a marigold color Tupperware bowl and a maroon color that are probably ‘80’s not sure. Also I have 2 yellow colanders which I use often love the handles. Do these have lead?? Are the clear bowls safe?
Thank you
Susan
Hi Susan, I haven’t texted those yet that I am aware of (those colors) – although I don’t have the names for all the colors. Check back periodically at this link to see any new Tupperware posts I share. I will be posting some more today: https://tamararubin.com/category/tupperware/
That link will take you to a list view of all my posts related to Tupperware.
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara
My family and I have never eaten these items but used them often in the kitchen; so assuming you’re right in your analysis, what do you propose we do with this stuff? Do we donate it to goodwill; do we dump the toxins into the trash and garbage dump; do we put it out for recycling?
I think this is a lot of hot air without solutions.
I recently passed down my Tupperware kid sized kitchen set to my daughter to play house with. The dishes are brown, yellow, orange and green. From the 1980’s. She doesn’t eat real food from them. Would they have the same composition as the ones that you have already tested? Should I get rid of them?
I’m sorry but trying to make a name for yourself by slandering a large corporation isn’t the way to, lady. If you were a true science professional, you would know that a proper experiment would not be entirely made up of variables. In this case, you would need a brand new set of cups that never came in touch with anything other than the factory equipment and employees and you do not. You tested the same product over and over… of course you got the same results. A product that has been out on the open for decades and has come in contact with many things. For all we know, you could have used them consistently to measure something containing lead and/or arsenic for most of that time and, of course, it would have absorbed into the plastic.
Please leave science to the true professionals.
Hi there,
After I published this original post I found a new unused set of bowls and purchased them and tested them (new unused but from the 1970s, same era) and the results were the same. Click here to see those posts:https://tamararubin.com/category/tupperware/
I made a name for myself long before testing Tupperware in 2019 ;-). I was on the Today Show in 2008. I was on CBS This Morning in 2017, and countless other news stories in between prior to this.
My focus is not Tupperware, my focus is testing consumer goods of all kinds for Lead in an effort to help parents make informed choices for their families.
I have over 1,600 posts here with test results – just a handful are Tupperware related. I have found Lead in newly manufactured baby bottles, in fidget spinners, in toys, in dishes, in lipstick – you name it. If you are interested in knowing which items in your home may have lead, and which may be lead-free, you can start with the Index for my site: https://tamararubin.com/2018/01/a-new-idea-an-index-for-leadsafemama-com/
Thank you for commenting and please let me know if you have any additional questions after you take a look at those links.
Tamara
So a bored housewife who now wants to play bring a profesional
?
Internationally recognized award winning environmental activist = bored housewife? Really?
I DREAM of being a bored housewife! Lol. I wish the cause of protecting children everywhere from Lead exposure didn’t keep me awake at all hours and constantly busy, but it does.
Thanks Edith for the vote of confidence. What do you do for work? Are your a bored housewife? Is that why you are taking the time to make comments like this?
Tamara
Receiving an award doesn’t grant you a degree. I am offended because I have many friends who are true PhD level scientists with many hours of laboratory work who know how to do research, hypothesis, thesis, etc, and along comes the crunchy mom who buys a tool online an does her own “experiments” in her kitchen/lab and continues to use social media to just say anything for fame. It’s irresponsible. I don’t care what your findings are, you ARE NOT qualified.
And thanks for asking, I am a professional working woman with children, and I found your “research” scrolling down Facebook along with many “lols”.
I read somewhere that Tamara has been trained on the equipment she uses. Are you one of the scientists you mentioned that are qualified to use the equipment that she uses? If not, would you be willing to ask one of them if her ‘research’ is valid? I would think that being trained on the one piece of equipment she uses would qualify her on that piece of equipment ~ but I am neither a scientist nor in any position to evaluate her methods. It seems to me that, at first glance, you are discrediting her work without knowing if it’s valid or not. But maybe the scientists you mention who have done research, etc would be in a better position to give an answer. If you would rather answer privately, I will give you my email. Thanks in advance.
Thank you, Julie!
Here’s my training certificate: https://tamararubin.com/2017/09/certificate/
Here’s a study by a PhD research scientist in the U.S. using the same instrumentation: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/scientific-research-paper-from-2015-confirming-the-presence-of-toxicants-in-vintage-plastics/
Here’s a 2018 study by a scientist in Europe using the same instrumentation: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/many-second-hand-plastic-toys-could-pose-a-risk-to-childrens-health-study-suggests-feb-2018/
Tamara
Thank you so much for doing this work ~ at your own expense, too. I have orange measuring cups and spoons. I used them to bake for my grandchildren, but not anymore. I don’t understand how people are upset that you are giving us valid information about a possible danger. They don’t have to pay attention to lead levels in their kitchens if they choose not to. To imply that you have not done enough because you haven’t tested the leach levels seems ludicrous to me. If they want that information, I suggest they test it themselves. I am so appreciative to have this information. Thank you again.
Thank you so much Julie!
On point! Exactly. You 100% get it.
It’s a trying experience. But I try to be patient with everyone. Each #NegativeNelly can be turned around if you appeal honestly to their concerns and try to answer their questions with the specific information they request – which I try to do.
I have been getting a LOT of hate e-mails in the past week. I respond with the story of my children’s poisoning and why I think there is a concern with these products (and why I think there is a need for corporate accountability for historic misdeeds) and those people I e-mail almost always turn around (at least a bit) to seeing the concern and getting the potential impact on their family.
I think it’s so funny that Snopes wrote an article today that at first glance appears to discredit my work, but with a solid thorough read it clearly 100% supports my findings. https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/i-made-it-to-the-front-page-of-snopes-again-4th-time-this-time-the-article-is-about-me-and-my-work-not-about-something-i-tested/
If only a small portion of the people who read about this really truly understand the concern (for the first time, in a new way), then a difference has been made and that’s all that matters.
Tamara
Serious question. Are these heavy metals and chemicals in the plastic addicting? I grew up using tupperware and playing with tuppertoys. Not sure if it’s just nostalgia or if the cups make water taste better, but to me I feel like water tastes best in tupperware cups. There is a distinct taste to the cups.
I may have missed it in the comments or on your site, but what instrument were you using to verify this and do you display your data results? It would be nice to have this information in order to help validate what you are writing.
Hi William, the instrumentation I use is discussed in the post and there are links to read more about it in the post as well. It is an XRF instrument specifically designed for testing for metals in consumer goods.
You can read more about it here: https://tamararubin.com/2016/12/ask-tamara-what-do-you-use-to-test-for-lead/
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara
What “age” is considered vintage? Do you have years in mind? Do you include 1980s?
So, you aren’t a scientist, you just bought a measuring tool and and now you play scientist. Got it!
And now how to get rid of them? If they end up in a land fill will it just leach into the ground contaminating the planet? How much of the toxins can possably leak into a recipe when the ingredients are in there for less than 30 seconds? Iyaya
First of all, thank you for your post!
Secondly, @ Rob Moore & Ms Kinyon
– do you honestly believe that people should be kept in the dark about objects that are of detriment to our health?
@ Tamara – have you ever tested vintage Rosti utensils?
Hi Alex,
Thank you for commenting! I don’t recall testing Rosti utensils. Could you send me some photos and I can give you a better idea if I recall testing something similar or have information in my archives that I have not yet posted? My email is TamaraRubin@mac.com.
Tamara
where do you get the testing material to do this and how much does it cost? I have a large amount of dishware I inherited i would like to test.
Hi Joy,
I use an XRF instrument that can be purchased new for about $50,000. It requires training and experience to use, although some companies do rent them for between $500 and $1,500 a day. Here’s more about the instrumentation I use for testing:https://tamararubin.com/2016/12/ask-tamara-what-do-you-use-to-test-for-lead/
The reason I do this (report this information publicly without charge here on my blog) is because most people do not have access to this type of instrumentation nor the knowledge or expertise on how to use it (and how to interpret the information gathered from the use of an instrument like this.)
Tamara
What is the best way to discard these items. I don’t want to donate and have someone else pick them up. Putting into the garbage isn’t a good option either. 🙁
Hi Tamara,
Thanks for the information on the Tupperware measuring cups. Could you tell me if there is any lead in the Tupperware old shape o toy balls, you know the old red and blue ones?
Those balls were still being produced in the early 2000s, maybe even still today. Will be difficult, unless you know the year for yours, because I bet the newer ones test safe.
Everything in life is harmful. Used with moderation, it’s no big deal. I will continue using the Tupperware that I still have. I’m not falling for the scare tactics.
Thank you for the information. I will be sure not to chop up my measuring cups and feed them to family and guests. Seriously, does no one here understand science???
This is not a problem. Any so-call leaching from using these product to briefly contact food would be at a level so small that it could not be measured. The health hazard would be from prolonged ingestion of these products directly on a massive scale. You would get more lead and arsenic from breathing air.
If you all want to keep selling fear, that is just all right, lots of people do it these days. I think I will go and worry about something more realistic — like getting hit by a meteor.
I just used these this morning! Ack! I don’t have kids, but I will not risk it. I have complete trust in your process, findings, and warnings. It’s not worth taking the risks. Thank you for all you do!
Thank you for commenting, Lauren!
Here’s a post I wrote that discusses symptoms in adults. Of course I can’t say if these cups alone would cause these symptoms (I have more of a concern for the bowls and other things that people might put hot food in, or might use in the microwave) – but I think the conversation about the potential impacts of products like this is so much broader than people realize: https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/what-is-the-impact-of-lead-poisoning-in-adults-including-college-age-students/
Tamara
Lead could be found in paint primary. If there was lead in vintage plastics 99.9% of the houses in the US would not be in code and would be condemned. Fake news. The fact is, vintage plastic is everywhere including museums. Chances is, if this informational is on Facebook first it’s fake or misleading period.
um.no.
Primarily?
Chances *are?
You must be fluent in fake news…your grammar is about as proper as current news articles. Move on.
What exactly would Tamara gain from exposing vintage toxic findings?
Have you read the CDC on lead in plastic? Let me offer both the quote and the link (i.e. it isn’t fake news):
“Plastic: The use of lead in plastics has not been banned. Lead softens the plastic and makes it more flexible so that it can go back to its original shape. It may also be used in plastic toys to stabilize molecules from heat. When the plastic is exposed to substances such as sunlight, air, and detergents the chemical bond between the lead and plastics breaks down and forms dust.”
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/toys.htm
William,
How about doing some research before you get on a blog and spout completely ignorant nonsense?
There are houses right here in the U.S. with lead paint that aren’t condemned. Seriously. Are you kidding? Or just bored and couldnt think of anything else to do?
Get back to us when you’re more informed on this subject.
So….these should be disposed of during a hazardous household waste collection? Not just dumped in the landfill?
Hi Lisa,
Here is my post about that: https://tamararubin.com/2013/11/what-should-i-do-with-my-lead-contaminated-dishes-to-toss-or-not-to-toss/
Thank you for commenting!
Tamara
Maybe I missed them — where are the links to the peer-reviewed evidence that all vintage Tupperware measuring cups are leaching lead into food? And which university is your degrees in chemistry or medicine from?
Or is this just another mommy blog that spouts the same anti-vaxxer nonsense, like pretty much every mommy blog in history? These types of blogs should be made illegal unless they provide actual scientific evidence. I know all the rest of the women reading this are stupid enough to just take your word for it, but I’d like actual evidence.
Hi Bertha,
Your choice of “Born to Breed” as an email address is an interesting one.
Here are two scientific studies that discuss the findings of heavy metals in vintage plastics and the potential for leaching and creating dust.
1) https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/scientific-research-paper-from-2015-confirming-the-presence-of-toxicants-in-vintage-plastics/ This study is from 2015: https://www.neha.org/sites/default/files/publications/jeh/JEH-JanFeb2015-Vintage-Toys.pdf
2) https://chemicals.news/2018-02-03-old-plastic-toys-could-be-dangerous-toxic-chemicals-that-have-been-banned.html [This study is from June of 2018: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180126085435.htm
–
Here are two more pieces about the impact of very low level lead exposure. One is from Harvard, which is a very well reputed university. Have you heard of it?
1) https://tamararubin.com/2017/09/natural-2/
2) This second article references studies from many of the top research scientists in the world (on the subject of lead exposure): https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/toxic_lead/
Why are you so angry? Can we get you some help?
Tamara
Bertha,
here are all the links to the 2018 research study and related stories in one place: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/many-second-hand-plastic-toys-could-pose-a-risk-to-childrens-health-study-suggests-feb-2018/
Tamara
So, my question is…my mom has similar measuring cups (a bigger set) and matching spoons. They are from the 80s and not the 70s (I know how old they are because they were wedding gifts, she was quite a baker back in the day)…so would they be different??
Hi Diana,
Thank you for commenting. It’s really hard to say given the products don’t have markings that indicate the year. I believe the toxic ones I have tested have likely all been from the 70s and 80s actually. However since we cannot be sure – we are asking for Tupperware to respond via this petition: https://tamararubin.com/2019/07/please-sign-this-change-org-petition-asking-tupperware-to-merely-respond-officially-regarding-the-findings-of-lead-mercury-cadmium-and-arsenic-in-their-vintage-products/
Tamara
Tupperware needs to recall all of these items IMMEDIATELY and FULLY reimburse anyone who has any of these toxic items!
Oh that would be amazing! I don’t think it is going to happen (Because there is no corporate obligation to recall vintage or antique items) but it would be terrific and very forward thinking if they did something like that!
I think part of the issue might be that they could claim they never expected for products to be in use for 40 to 50 years with families. An argument against that though is that apparently the company never put the plastics recycling symbols on the body of their products because they considered them to be “lifetime use” and did not intend that they would ever be recycled.
I have tested a few more items and will post them soon – but so far the brown, blue and white/clear have not been positive for heavy metals – although I also understand from Tupperware’s own admission that if they are made before 2010 they have BPA – which is an endocrine disruptor.
I think it would bankrupt them to recall all products made before 2010, but I think that would be a great thing to demand of them (and see how they respond). Perhaps we should start a petition?
Tamara
The fact that Tupperware is not suing you is interesting. I am going to reach out to them and ask … why not? I am really interested in whether they don;t sue because there is merit to the dangers of 30, 40 or 50 year old Tupperware… or if there is another reason. As to the dangers, I will wait for the science as I do not agree that your certs and training qualify you as one. You DO point out the NEED for the science to be done to prove or disprove your statements of the dangers.
Also please confirm you are talking about Tupperware that is 30, 40 or 50 years old… not newer… (other than the 2010 issues that are different from lead.) Also, I am sorry your children are effected by lead poisoning and will search to hear more info on how that happened — what lead they injected and where, and what happened after this was learned that they had been poisoned. Hopefully they are doing better today.
My husband has had a blood test takrn of all toxins in his body. He has a huge amount of lead, Mercury and a handful of others. We are in the process of detoxifying his body from this lead. As I read this post, I am horrified!! My mother in law was a Tupperware consultant and has every piece of Tupperware you could imagine still in her home today. My kids play with the tiny set of Tupperware while in the bathtub there. I never thought this could be harmful. Now as to gently approach my husband and mother in law to rid of these items. Thank you for your research and sending out the message of awareness and knowledge.
Hi Amber,
Thank you for your comment. I’m sorry to hear about your husband’s health issues. You might want to check out this post: https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/natural-chelation/
We try to add as much garlic to our kiddos diets as possible, as it has been well studied to be an effective natural chelator of Lead (there’s a link on the post I just linked above to a relevant study done with chickens.)
Tamara
Yes! Chelation is the name of his detox program. He had also had his urine tested as well.
People are so quick to judge you and question you for your methods, tools, background knowledge. Don’t give up! Thank you for fighting for awareness for other families to keep their families safe. The people that get so angry… are they experts? Have they been tested for these toxins? Have they themselves tested their own Tupperware? So strange that people would argue and fight and be offended at this topic.
How would I be able to go about getting my mother in laws tupperware tested?
Yes we use a LOT of healthy methods to detoxify our bodies.
Also, sugar is a huge contributor to making people sick and killing their immune system, but you don’t see the government shutting down the sugar factories. Once enough people are directly affected by a certain product it takes time, effort, studies, evidence and money to go after a huge company like Tupperware.
Hi Amber,
Thank you for your response. Here’s how to participate in the testing and reporting that I do with my readers: https://tamararubin.com/2017/07/subscribe-in-support-of-my-advocacy-work-you-can-become-eligible-to-send-in-a-box-of-your-things-for-testing/
Tamara
Dear Tamara, in the midst of very varied responses, I find your comments and rebuttals to remain a calm restatement if the facts as you know them. Good job! In an inflammatory world that can be difficult. I appreciate the work you are doing.
Hi Liz!
Thank you so much for your kind words. I try to keep my sass in check! 😉
Tamara
Do you know if any of this kind of testing has ever been done on Pampered Chef Cooking Ware??
I was wondering beginning what year is Tupperware consideeed safe?
Hi Eileen,
My understanding after researching this is that post-2010 is the best (in terms of toxicant safety.)
Tamara
Thanks Tamara! I definitely have to dispose of mine then.
The testing on the Tupperware measuring cups was on ones marked “made in USA”, what about the ones marked “made in Canada” , are they also toxic?
It would also be helpful to have the product code to know exactly the products in question
I was wondering the same. Has anyone tested the ones that say Made In Canada?
We would all be dead if that was true.
Hi John,
Chronic low-level Lead exposure rarely causes death. Here are two posts with more information about the impacts of lead exposure that might help to address your concern:
1)https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/what-is-the-impact-of-lead-poisoning-in-adults-including-college-age-students/
2)https://tamararubin.com/2015/02/fine/
Tamara
I use to sell Tupperware 25 years ago so I had a bunch of these. I did eventually get rid of them all and I’m using only glass containers now. Due to my illness, I was actually tested for heavy metal toxicity, and yes, I had high levels. People don’t take this seriously enough. I say prevent before you get a serious diagnosis like I did. To heal or reverse cancer or any auto-immune disorder is way more expensive than those Tupperware, not worth it. One IV chelation therapy (heavy metal detox) costs about $400 US plus blood works before and after, and you could get more than one depending on the levels. Heavy metals are hard to detox from. Ditch ALL your plastics! Your health is worth taking care of.
Thank you so much for commenting Katalin!
Tamara
Hi Tamara,
I am totally freaking out! I used a very old Tupperware bowl to do some cleaning yesterday. It’s a harvest gold color – I think from the 1960s, but I have no idea how old. I poured hydrogen peroxide into the bowl so I could dip a rag in it and clean some things around my house. I cleaned a bunch of my kids’ toys with the rag! I’m terrified that lead leached into the hydrogen peroxide and I spread lead-filled water all over my kids’ toys! Can you tell me if this is a possibility? If so, can you tell me what next steps I should take? Thank you so much!
Hi Holly,
Sorry to not respond sooner – I have been traveling (on the road helping families and not at my computer). I think I would not use the vintage Tupperware for any purpose. I don’t know (and can’t evaluate) if it is creating dust or leaching at all. I have not done that level of testing and that concern is not encompassed in the testing that I do. I think in the future I would not use the bowl for that purpose. A new bucket from Home Depot (or similar) for $5 will not likely have those toxicants and will be a safer bet.
If you still have concerns about the toys you cleaned, I would consider washing them again using laundry detergent – here’s a post I wrote about that (please read the whole post as the point about washing toys is towards the end, thank you!) https://tamararubin.com/2015/09/ask-tamara-how-do-you-get-lead-dust-out-of-laundry/
Tamara
Hi Holly – I posted an answer on your the comment. Check out this link: https://tamararubin.com/2015/09/ask-tamara-how-do-you-get-lead-dust-out-of-laundry/
Tamara
Thank you so much! I so appreciate it. I just have a couple of follow up questions.
If lead leached into the hydrogen peroxide from the bowl, is there a danger/possibility of lead dust now? Is that how it works? I’m concerned about trying to clean lead dust up.
In addition to cleaning plastic toys, I also wiped off cardboard boxes (puzzles, board games) and many books. I also wiped off my white wood blinds and some particle board-type shelves.
I am so terrified that I’m willing to throw everything away if you think that’s safest. I am worried about lead dust and the carpet, blinds, shelves, etc.
What do you think?
Thanks so much again!
Calm down and read this….
https://www.popsci.com/earthtalk/article/2008-08/how-safe-tupperware
This is a late comment, but the article was just re-posted today by “Safer Chemicals Healthy Families”.
If you have a child, grandchild, niece, nephew or any acquaintance, in a nursery school or child day care center, please show them this article. I have taught in a child day care center for 33 years, and in every classroom the “housekeeping”, “family corner”, or “drama area”, is stocked with cast-off Tupperware donated by “thoughtful” parents and friends. In fact if you could arrange to pass on this information to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, you could reach A LOT of administrators, teachers, and families.
Thank you for your comment, Janet!
Tamara
Rather than adding to lead contamination of land and water (garbage dumping), as an activist, What is your recommendation for safe disposal? I’m a little disappointed that this concern was not addressed in your article.
What qualifies as “vintage” Tupperware? I bought all of mine in the 1980s. One item is a set of 4 Christmas snack party plates. Two are bright red and two are bright green. I use them to feed my cats their soft food. I have stopped using the plates but wonder if they are safe?
Hi Pam,
Technically “vintage” is anything over 20 years old. Tupperware stopped using BPA in 2010 though, so I would personally only stick with post-2010 Tupperware if I were to use any in my home.
Tamara
So I would imagine he orange measuring cups just like these gold ones are not good also???
Thanks for commenting! It depends on the exact color and the age, Cris.
Here’s one set of orange measuring cups that I tested: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/orange-tupperware-vintage-measuring-cups-61-ppm-cadmium-cadmium-is-a-known-carcinogen-for-humans/
Tamara
May I ask what scientific methods you use to come to these conclusions ? There is so much fake info out there these days.
Thank you
Hi Kim – There’s a tab in my top menu bar that says “Lead Testing” and there are bunch of posts under that tab. If you don’t find answers to all of your questions there, please let me know. You can start with this one: https://tamararubin.com/2016/12/ask-tamara-what-do-you-use-to-test-for-lead/
Thank you for commenting.
Tamara
Why should the makers of Tupperware be given any more of a green light than the cigarette manufacturers who claimed for decades that tobacco was neither addicting nor unhealthy? Or the current corporate bosses who work so hard to keep our children eating chlorpyrifos?
I grew up in an asbestos mining town. My father insisted to his dying day that, “properly handled”, asbestos was not a toxic substance. Anyone who has been connected to something that turns out to harm our children has my sympathy.
But now it’s time to give it up.
Tamara, could you please tell me if the yellow measuring cups that have “made in Australia “ on them also affected? Thank you
Hi Marie – I don’t yet know for sure, but my educated guess would be that they would have a similar toxicant profile as the American ones from the same era.
Thanks for commenting. I will let you know if I learn differently (if I have the opportunity to test ones with “Made in Australia” marked on the bottom.
FYI – I would love to come to Australia to come do outreach events (in case you are connected with a hospital or university that might like to host a visit!):https://tamararubin.com/2019/08/lead-safe-mama-would-love-to-come-to-australia-join-our-australia-lead-safe-mamas-facebook-group-to-help-coordinate-a-trip/
Tamara
Thank you,Tamara, for your reply.
You can send all your lead contaminate tupperware to me!! Same for vintage Pyrex, as it contains lead too.
Hi Donna – I’ll let people know. Why don’t you share your address! 😉
Lol – jk!
Thanks for commenting!
Tamara
I will continue to use my tupperware vintage or not. I will cook with my cast aluminum pans. I refuse to carry a bottle of hand sanitizer in my purse. You people are nuts. I will use all of my vintage cooking utensils. I don’t keep 10 different cutting mats in my kitchen to cut every different kind of food up.
Hi Mom,
Hand sanitizer is super toxic and can breed super-bugs. I am so glad to hear you don’t use it. I tell my children to tell people they are allergic to it so that they are not required to use it. In fact – as humans they are essentially allergic to it – so it is not an untrue statement. No humans should be using that stuff.
Also I’m glad to hear you don’t use those awful plastic or silicone mats! They are equally sketchy. Give me a good old-fashioned handmade wooden cutting board any day!
Sounds like you have some issues with someone in your life who might be a “natural living” fan… hmmm.
Thank you for commenting!
Tamara
Lol using an all wooden cutting board can actually get you slivers of wood into your food and then into your system. And no, it doesn’t break down as quickly as you’d think it to. Look it up.
Seems pointless to worry about these things given the current state of the world today.
Or – conversely one could say… there are simple things you can do to protect your family… so why wouldn’t you (given all the other things in the world that are going on that you have no control over!)
Thanks for commenting.
Tamara Rubin
I have the the yellow measuring cups and glasses in the brown, green, orange and yellow. I started collecting them about 10 years ago and use them daily. I developed necrosis in my jaw with no explained reason. I had 3 jaw surgeries and was left with missing teeth and permanent nerve damage in my face. I seen 2 infection control Doctors and neither could tell me why this happened. I had no cancer drugs or bone building drugs. Could it be from using these?
I have the measuring cups. Is there a way to have them replaced
I have the apple green measuring cups but they are made in Canada. What are the chances it’s the same formulation? Pretty high I’m guessing. They were my mother’s and I’d be really sorry to see them go.
After reading this, I set aside my orange measuring cups, measuring spoons & my funnel. I also have the orange cookie cutters, but don’t see these on your site. Have you tested them? I don’t have a camera, and can’t post a pic for you. They’re a “nesting” set of cutter in flower, heart & round shapes. Great set, but not if they’re leaching lead.
If you’re interested in testing these (because you might not have seen them), I can ship them to you for that. I know I’d like them back, so I would be happy to send them, return postage and a $25 contribution towards their testing. Please just email me back & let me know.
Thanks so much for all you do…I noticed your link on a friend’s page (Natural Mama) and just knew that if the yellow measuring cups were listed that the orange would be, too. In this case, I’m sorry I’m right…
Blessings to you and yours.
My Tupperware measuring cups are cream colored, not yellow.
Also there is no “number” on the bottom of the cups.
Are they safe? I have no idea how old they are.
Hello. I do have the yellow Tupperware measuring cups and spoons and have removed them from my cabinet. Before I discard them I would like to know if there is any danger in using them to measure ingredients for fabric dyeing. What is your take on that?
Hi, I just bought some gorgeous Tupperware vintage sandwich boxes in pink and purple. Are these also toxic?
Are the Tupperware toys safe? Like the stencils? Mine are dated 1987.
Hi Lynn,
I am sorry – I have not tested the stencils yet.
Tamara
Hi Tamara
Many of us were Tupperware Dealers and had everything Tupperware ever demonstrated because they were our party line and later we just used them for ourselves when we stopped demonstrating. What about the Strawberry Creme Containers, Wonderlier Bowls, the Smaller Raed Cereal Bowls and is it only the Vintage Tupperware ? What about the new Tupperware ? I just happened to be looking for a Thasha Jr. Wonderlier Bowl when I saw your article. Please let me know what your findings are for the newer stuff. You know that may be an easier way to let others know is by date from such and such because I think the newer tupperware may be ok. I would think they would have checked their products better as time went on with all the things you find now a days. So let me know. Thanks for your Alert.
The truth is all plastics before 2010 contained many undesirable things, not just Tupperware, I ditched ALL my plastics from prior to 2010. I really like the commitment to exceptionally high standards Tupperware has & publishes.
You don’t have a job do you? Just living everyday we are subject to something that might cause health issues. I shall continue to eat bacon, raw cookie dough, and use my tupperware measuring cups. I have any containers that I might heat something in. If it gets sticky, I throw it away. You helicopter mom’s need to chill and enjoy life. You all are the ones with 10,000 bottles of hand sanitizer in your purse (pre-covid)
Hi Pam,
Thanks for commenting.
Hand sanitizer can be really toxic. I never use it. You might want to look in to that.
This blog is my job. I work on it full time. I test consumer goods for Lead to help you protect your families. I do this because my children have permanent brain damage (and other health issues) from being Lead poisoned as babies – and I don’t want others to suffer the same fate. I think any mom with a child with a diagnosed brain injury from lead exposure has a legitimate excuse to engage in behaviors that other moms may think of as “helicoptering”.
It’s definitely not safe to use vintage Tupperware for heating food (please reconsider that choice – for any plastic – especially if your Tupperware is from before 2010.) Outside of that I cannot say anything about specific health impacts – but I do have concerns with long-term use of ANY (and all) highly toxic products..
Here’s a post about the potential impacts of Lead exposure in adults (if you want to follow that path at all): https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/what-is-the-impact-of-lead-poisoning-in-adults-including-college-age-students/
Sorry you seem to be in a bad mood today. Hopefully you will feel better tomorrow.
Tamara
Hello again, I just saw this post. I have these in white AND I have lots of those stacking Tupperware drinking cups that I have used for years. Do you happen to know if those are safe? They are all older, vintage… and I purchased on eBay years ago. Thank you so much.
Hi Lori-
Here is the test results for the white measuring cups: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/white-tupperware-vintage-measuring-cups-non-detect-for-lead-mercury-cadmium-and-arsenic/
Also, some great posts that may help answer some of your questions regarding your drinking cups: https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/asktamara-how-can-i-tell-if-my-vintage-tupperware-plastic-cups-are-toxic-by-color-by-shape-by-age/
https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/is-my-tupperware-toxic-here-are-pictures-of-everything-i-have-tested-so-far-with-links-to-the-xrf-test-results/
Been using vintage Tupperware for 40 years, & I ain’t dead yet.
Figure that things do not sit in measuring cups for more than a few seconds. Not enough time for any chemicals to leach into whatever liquid or powder you’re using.
Hi Allaiyah!
Thanks for commenting. You may want to read this post: https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/what-is-the-impact-of-lead-poisoning-in-adults-including-college-age-students/
Lead exposure (especially cumulative low level chronic exposure) rarely causes death.
My bigger concern (bigger than the measuring cups) is the microwavable bowls: https://tamararubin.com/2019/12/another-vintage-tupperware-example-orange-bowl-with-lid-3380-ppm-cadmium-935-ppm-mercury-both-are-poisons-for-humans/
And since you can buy a new set of measuring cups for about $10.00 (aflink: https://amzn.to/38Sppot) unknowns like this (items with unknown untested health impacts) just don’t seem worth the risk (at least to me they do not).
Tamara
Is it only opaque and/or colored plastics that are concerning? What about the original translucent Tupperware items my mom bought in 1953?
I do not believe you for one minute. Especially since you are not a US citizen. You a just spewing lies about a US company and US made product. Shame on your for your poor judgement on a fictitious article you dare to put on the web. Your discusting!!
Hi Lynn. You are so funny! Why do you think I am not a US citizen? And what does that have to do with anything? I was born in Saginaw, Michigan by the way. On my mother’s side I am third generation American and on my father’s side I am forever generations American (Native American Heritage) via my grandmother and something like 7th generation American via my grandfather. Lol.
Tamara
I was shocked to find your article but very thankful. Although we are in our mid 60’s we have been using vintage Tupperware. I an now going through all cabinets and want to know about:
Opaque bread box
Opaque vertices cracker box
Blue Tupperware
**Hi, Tamara.
Please answer, as possible….
Is the 1980’s Tupperware Shape O Ball toy (red/blue with yellow shape pieces) safe and lead free, etc free?
Thank you,
Concerned Parent
Tupperware offers a lifetime warranty. If there is even a question over health safety with items prior to being BPA free, people with items should have them replaced by Tupperware to the equivalent item free of charge to current health standards. A lifetime warranty IS a lifetime warranty!!! If people HAVE to throw these out, then Tupperware needs to honor their warranty.
Thank you Tamara for such detailed information. I love Tupperware and now have a dilemma in the kitchen.
I have basically lived out of Tupperware all my life….. Although l do believe my outdated amalgam fillings have done more possible harm.
In fact l am sure we would be alarmed if all our possessions were tested for possible toxins. l hate to think…..!
As the last comment suggested returning all my Tupperware as it has a lifetime guarantee is possibly the best solution.
I can’t imagine how Tupperware would financially cope if we were all to return their product for a refund?? Could they possibly ask for proof of toxic levels and if so thank you kindly for your testing results…
Your a true warrior.
Forever grateful Kerrie 🙂
A lot cheaper than replacing fillings.
Well, I’m in my mid 60’s and have used these measuring cups (and other vtg Tupperware) most all my life and I’m still here with no signs of lead poisoning. Healthy and happy! If I ate out of them everyday rather than just use at Christmas etc. maybe I’d be concerned. Big difference! My grown kids have no signs of lead poisoning either. We boomers have lived under the threat of nuclear war all our lives so I’m not afraid of measuring cups. Lol. Everything in moderation vs. the sky is falling is a good approach to anything vintage!
These were designed for dry measuring (sugar, flour,etc) and not for cooking or microwaving. How does the lead & arsenic leach out?
I have tons of Tupperware. 8 three section ‘tv’ trays. Have these been tested for toxins?
My yellow measuring cups only have the size stamped on the bottom no other numbers. The orange measuring cups that I had started peeling several years ago so they moved to the garage for measuring plant food. So I guess I’ll throw those out too.
Thank you for doing this work. i just wrote a quick post on my blog (it doesnt get much traffic- it is more of a personal record keeping journal for me- and if it helps 1 person Yay! ) https://simplyreduce.blogspot.com/2023/01/toxins-reducing-stuff-load.html
but just wanted to thank you and let you know i linked back to your article. Thank you for shining a light on this important issue.
I have a ton of Tupperware from the late 80’s and early 90’s, including the measuring cups. A lot of my Tupperware was clear with pink lids. I bought the entire set for my kitchen, from the carousel spice rack to the small and large cereal flip containers. I have all of the cake containers and the jello mold in green. I still use everything. I put my organic spelt flour, imagine that, in the large square container with the pink lid. We would use them in the freezer in a pinch for extra ice cubes. Yeah, I would say its upsetting. A little late on the bandwagon with the BPA situation. I never thought about my Tupperware or Pampered Chef items. I’ll take a picture and email it to you or mail the items and you can test them. I’m going to remove my cereal and flour. That is my first step. I recently bought new measuring cups and some plastic containers.
Where do I find a list of the bad Tupperware? Or how do I test it
To see if it’s bad or safe as I have lots from the late 80s also..
Thank you.