Non-Toxic Food Storage Containers: A Buying Guide

Choosing non-toxic food storage containers has become more complicated in recent years. The market is full of products claiming to be safe, natural, and free from harmful chemicals — and most of them are, under normal conditions. But the definition of non-toxic is not regulated, and the differences between materials that pass basic safety tests and those that have been rigorously independently tested for all potential health concerns are significant.

Here is a practical buying guide to help you choose containers that are genuinely safe for everyday use.

Start with the material

The material determines everything else. Before looking at price, brand, or design, identify what the container is made from and whether that material has been tested for the specific safety concerns that matter to you.

Glass
Glass is chemically inert. It does not leach compounds into food under any conditions, including high heat, contact with acidic foods, and fatty foods. It does not absorb odors or flavors. From a chemical safety perspective, glass is the most straightforward choice — there is simply nothing to leach.

The trade-offs are weight and breakability. For households where these are not limiting factors, glass is an excellent choice for everyday food storage.

Tritan copolyester
Tritan is a copolyester plastic developed and manufactured by Eastman Chemical. It is produced without BPA, BPS, or phthalates and has been independently tested for estrogenic and androgenic activity by multiple third-party laboratories. These are the hormonal disruption mechanisms associated with BPA and its chemical relatives.

The Silo container set uses Baby Bottle Grade Tritan, the most stringent food safety certification applied to Tritan products. Baby bottle-grade certification requires passing the strictest chemical migration standards — the same standards applied to products designed for use with infants. It is one of the most thoroughly tested food contact plastics commercially available.

Stainless steel
Food-grade stainless steel (18/8 or 304 grade) is also chemically inert under normal storage conditions. It does not leach compounds into food, does not absorb odors, and is extremely durable. The practical limitations are that it is not microwave-safe and not transparent, which makes it better suited to pantry storage and packed lunches than everyday fridge use.

Polypropylene (PP)
Standard polypropylene is BPA-free and FDA-compliant for food contact. It is the most widely used plastic in everyday food containers and is considered safe under normal use. It absorbs odors and stains more readily than Tritan or glass, and has not been as comprehensively independently tested for all potential chemical migration pathways as Tritan has.

What certifications actually mean

FDA compliance
FDA compliance means a material has been tested and approved for food contact use at specified conditions of temperature and contact time. It is the baseline standard, not the gold standard. Most food contact plastics meet this threshold.

BPA-free
BPA-free means the product does not contain bisphenol A. It does not mean the product is free of all bisphenol compounds. BPS and BPF, which are structurally similar to BPA, are used as alternatives in many BPA-free products. The research on these alternatives is less developed than for BPA, but early findings suggest they may have similar hormonal activity.

Independent third-party testing
The most meaningful safety credential is independent third-party testing by laboratories with no financial relationship to the manufacturer. Tritan has undergone this type of testing specifically for estrogenic and androgenic activity across multiple independent labs. This level of scrutiny goes significantly beyond FDA compliance and BPA-free labeling.

Heat tolerance: a critical factor

Chemical migration from plastics increases with heat. A container that is safe at room temperature may behave differently under repeated microwave and dishwasher exposure. Before buying, check:

• Whether the container is rated for microwave use and at what temperature
• Whether the rating applies to the lid as well as the container body
• Whether the material has been tested specifically under heat stress conditions

Tritan containers are rated for microwave use (with the lid removed) and dishwasher use, and have been tested under heat stress conditions as part of independent safety evaluations. Glass containers are generally safe for microwave and oven use, though lids should always be checked separately as they are often made from different materials.

What to avoid

Polycarbonate (PC)
The original source of BPA concern in food containers. Some products, particularly older containers and imported items, may still use polycarbonate. Check for the recycling code 7 on the bottom and look for explicit Tritan or other BPA-free labeling if you see code 7.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
PVC may contain phthalate plasticizers. It is rarely used in rigid food storage containers but appears in some food wraps and flexible packaging. Avoid it for food storage where alternatives are available.

Scratched or degraded plastic containers
Any plastic container that shows scratching, cloudiness, or visible wear should be replaced. Surface damage increases the rate of chemical migration from any plastic material, regardless of how safe the original material was.

Practical checklist for buying non-toxic food storage containers

Before purchasing, confirm:

• The specific material is named (Tritan, borosilicate glass, 304 stainless steel — not just "BPA-free plastic")
• Independent third-party testing has been conducted and results are available
• The container is rated for your intended use (microwave, dishwasher, freezer)
• The lid material is also addressed — lid safety is frequently overlooked
• The container shows no signs of degradation if buying secondhand or older stock

The Silo container set meets all of these criteria. Baby Bottle Grade Tritan, independently tested for hormonal activity, rated for microwave and dishwasher use, and built for daily use across years of repeated sealing cycles. Shop the Silo Container Set.