Restaurantware Bento Tek 40.5 Ounces Stackable Lunch Box 1 Reusable Adult Lunch Container
Lower-concern lunch box; typical PP plastic rarely uses PFAS.
Restaurantware Bento Tek is a polypropylene food container with no disclosed PFAS-related coatings or treatments. Brand makes no PFAS claims, but the material itself poses reduced concern compared to water-resistant or nonstick-coated products.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
polypropylene (PP) plastic container
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Restaurantware Bento Tek 40.5 Ounces is made of, ingredients and materials
This Bento Tek container is polypropylene (PP), a thermoplastic polymer chosen for food storage because it is microwave-safe at moderate temperatures and resistant to cracking. Polypropylene does not contain BPA or BPS by design, unlike older polycarbonate alternatives. The material is inert at room temperature and cold storage; leaching risk from PP itself is not documented in standard use. The lid and hinges are also PP, meaning no metal or other component materials introduce lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals into the food contact zone.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Microplastic shedding from polymer degradation
Prolonged UV exposure, repeated thermal cycling, or mechanical stress (scratching, denting) can cause surface degradation and micro-fragment release in polypropylene. Risk is low with typical lunch-box use and proper storage, but increases significantly if the container is left in direct sunlight, repeatedly microwaved, or used for hot foods above 160°F.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
BPA & bisphenols
Polypropylene is formulated without BPA or BPS by industrial standard. No reports of BPA or BPS contamination in Bento Tek or comparable PP lunch boxes exist.
Source, FDA ↗Phthalate migration
Phthalate plasticizers are not used in rigid polypropylene food containers; they are primarily a concern in PVC and flexible PET films. This product's material and known formulation do not include phthalates.
Heavy metals
No cadmium, lead, or antimony contamination has been reported in Bento Tek containers or standard food-grade polypropylene products. If the container contains color, modern PP colorants used in food-contact applications are typically cadmium-free, but manufacturer material sourcing is not publicly disclosed.
Source, FDA ↗Coating or ink degradation
Standard Bento Tek lunch boxes do not have printed decorative coatings or enamels; any labeling or branding is typically screen-printed or embossed on the external surface. Interior contact surfaces are bare polypropylene, so coating flaking or ink migration into food is not a documented concern for this product.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Restaurantware and the Bento Tek line have no published safety disclosures, third-party certifications (NSF, FDA pre-clearance statements), or documented recalls related to chemical migration or contamination. The brand does not publicly communicate PFAS avoidance or material sourcing practices. No adverse event reports or health complaints tied to this specific product are on record in public databases. Absence of disclosure is typical for this price-point food-storage manufacturer and does not indicate a safety concern, but limits independent verification of material sourcing and testing protocols.
How it compares in its category
Polypropylene food containers are among the lowest-concern options for non-heated storage and cool-pack lunch transport. Glass alternatives eliminate leaching risk entirely but add weight and breakage risk. Stainless steel containers eliminate polymer concerns but are more expensive and can develop dents or rust if damaged. This Bento Tek box sits in the mainstream middle, durable PP at an accessible price point, with no known material defect or chemical hazard distinguishing it from competing PP lunch boxes in the $10-20 range.
If you buy it
Do not microwave the sealed container or subject the lid to heat above 140°F (60°C), as polypropylene softening and potential minor leaching increase at higher temperatures; transfer food to a ceramic or glass dish if reheating is needed. Inspect the lid hinge and seal quarterly for cracks, cloudiness, or warping; replace the container if plastic becomes brittle or the seal no longer closes firmly. Wash by hand or top-rack dishwasher; abrasive scouring can scratch the interior and degrade the polymer surface over years of use. Store in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and strong solvents (e.g., acetone, turpentine), which can weaken PP over time.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 68% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Bento Tek has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Lunch Boxes
Klean Kanteen
Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Food Canister Container with Leak Proof Lid
- Stainless steel body, silicone gasket lid seal
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Silicone gasket degradation
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Snapware
Meal Box Glass
- borosilicate glass
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Leaching from glass matrix or lid seals
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
OXO
Steel Pop Big Square Short - 2.8 Qt/2.6 l
- Stainless steel container, no surface treatment
- Lid/gasket polymer leaching
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
More lunch boxes grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.