To see more Tupperware items I have tested, click here.
When using an XRF instrument to test these plastic measuring cups (which are made of solid white plastic with no painted markings or decorations) they had the following readings:
- Zinc (Zn): 21 +/- 7 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 537 +/- 250 ppm
All test results reported on this blog are replicable and accurate. The test result set above was for a test of this item for a full 60 seconds (one minute) in “Consumer Goods” mode. If a metal is not listed above, it was not detected by the XRF instrument in this mode.
A word of caution, given it is nearly impossible to tell the exact year of manufacture of a Tupperware product (because they appear to not be marked in any way that would indicate the exact year of manufacture), the fact that this white cup set is negative for Lead, Cadmium, Mercury and Arsenic does not mean that other white Tupperware items will also be negative (however this does seem highly likely given the presence of toxicants in the vintage Tupperware pieces seems to be wholly dependent on color.)
More testing and research is necessary to definitively make this determination, however all three examples of the vintage white Tupperware products that I have tested so far have been negative for Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and Arsenic.
Outside of the concern for the presence of heavy metal toxicants, it is my understanding that all vintage Tupperware (pre-2010) does test positive for BPA (a substance which is not detectable with an XRF instrument). As a result, just because a vintage Tupperware item is negative for toxic heavy metals does not mean it should definitely be considered safe for food-use purposes.
If you have any information that could help date this particular item, that would be very much appreciated. So far I have this 1982 Tupperware catalog that helps give some context for some of the pieces and colors – link. Thank you for supporting this work in this way (by providing information that is helpful to others!)
If you appreciate this work and would like to see more test results like this, please consider contributing to the GoFundMe for my advocacy work: http://www.GoFundMe.com/LeadSafeMama. I do “take requests” as I live near quite a few antique stores and could easily go purchase something that you might want tested if the cost of the item were covered and a contribution that also helped with the cost of testing was made. Please e-mail me if you are interested in having me purchase something specific to test: TamaraRubin@mac.com
To learn more about participating in the regular (non-Tupperware related!) consumer goods testing I do with the support of my readers, please click this link.
As always, thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Click here for the overview post showing all Tupperware tested so far.
Tamara, can you reactivate the gofundme to give you money?
Thank yo so much Rebecca! The GoFundMe is active – but there is a glitch going to it from Facebook for some reason! Here’s the direct link: http://www.GoFundMe.com/LeadSafeMama
There is a rusty red color vintage Tupperware used mostly for meat and deli items storage with clear/white lids. I ‘ve been trying to find if it is safe. The marinade containers are great. Now I use a zip bag with the marinade and food inside them on the raise grid surface. Is that safe? Also, what do we do with unsafe Tupperware?
Those marinade and hot dog containers in cinnamon red were in my 1979 catalog. I still have them. Hope they are safe.