Media Concerns Over Polycarbonate

Containers Reports have appeared recently in certain media that polycarbonate containers are being withdrawn from store shelves due to concerns over the safety of the material. Polycarbonate is a high-strength plastic made from a monomer known as bisphenol-A. Certain Tupperware® products are made from polycarbonate, including serving products and Rock-N-Serve storage and cooking containers. However, polycarbonate is NOT used in Tupperware baby bottles or toys.

Bisphenol-A has been an approved substance for use in food contact products for decades. Governmental regulatory agencies around the world, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada, the European Food Safety Agency, the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency and the Japanese Ministry for Health, Labor and Welfare have all approved the material. Over the last ten years, other scientists have raised concerns over the substance, including the amount which migrates out of the products during heating. These governmental agencies have reconfirmed the safety of the material during this period. Tupperware has conducted migration studies of bisphenol-A from its products using independent testing laboratories, and found the migration levels to be within acceptable levels, as specified by the Governmental regulatory agencies.

On the strength of the repeated governmental scrutiny that polycarbonate has had, Tupperware continues to believe the material is safe. However, as Tupperware has the highest regard for the safety of the consumers of its products, it will continue to closely monitor this scientific debate.