Lunch Food Box vs SL-XE20AD Classic Stainless Lunch Jar: which is safer?

Klean Kanteen Lunch Food Box is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Our pick

Klean Kanteen Lunch Food Box

Klean Kanteen

Lunch Food Box

PFAS grade

Excellent 100/100

Overall grade

Excellent 88/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

stainless steel with bamboo fiber lid

Confidence

78%

PossibleBamboo fiber lid degradation or contaminant absorption

PossibleGasket or seal material composition

PossibleBamboo fiber formaldehyde or chemical treatment residue

Zojirushi SL-XE20AD Classic Stainless Lunch Jar

Zojirushi

SL-XE20AD Classic Stainless Lunch Jar

PFAS grade

Excellent 80/100

Overall grade

Good 72/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Stainless steel interior and exterior, no nonstick or waterproof coatings

Confidence

82%

PossibleNickel leaching from stainless steel

PossibleSeal/gasket degradation and mold growth

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Bamboo fiber lid degradation or contaminant absorption, Gasket or seal material composition and Bamboo fiber formaldehyde or chemical treatment residue on the Klean Kanteen and not on the Zojirushi.
  • We flag Nickel leaching from stainless steel and Seal/gasket degradation and mold growth on the Zojirushi and not on the Klean Kanteen.
  • The Klean Kanteen is stainless steel with bamboo fiber lid where the Zojirushi is Stainless steel interior and exterior, no nonstick or waterproof coatings, which is most of the difference in these two grades.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More lunch boxes & food containers: see the full ranking