Restaurantware · Disposable Food Containers
Restaurantware Plastic Clamshell Containers
Skip until the brand releases coating details or test results.
Restaurantware's polypropylene clamshells have an undisclosed grease-resistant treatment. Without transparency on coating formula or testing, risk stays uncertain.
The better-graded swap
Eco-Products
Eco-Products Compostable Clear Clamshell Hinged Food
100/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Polypropylene (PP) with undisclosed grease-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Restaurantware Plastic Clamshell is made of, ingredients and materials
Restaurantware clamshells are polypropylene (PP, #5 plastic), a thermoplastic polymer that is inherently free of BPA and phthalates. The undisclosed grease-resistant coating is the concern, such coatings in food packaging are commonly fluorinated compounds (PFAS family) to repel oils and liquids. Without ingredient transparency from Durable Packaging, the specific chemistry and stability of this coating under heat and acidic foods cannot be assessed. PP itself is heat-resistant to approximately 100-130°C (212-266°F), but coating durability at these temperatures depends entirely on its formulation.
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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Grease-resistant coating leaching (likely fluorinated compounds)
Undisclosed fluorinated coatings can migrate into fatty foods, especially when heated or stored long-term. Without brand disclosure, migration risk cannot be quantified; assume possible until proven otherwise.
Microplastics
Degradation of the grease-resistant coating under thermal stress or repeated contact with acidic or oily foods could generate micro-particles. Uncoated PP itself is stable; coating integrity is the variable.
Source, EPA ↗Thermal degradation of coating under microwave or oven use
These are single-use disposables not rated for microwave or oven temperatures. Heating above 60-70°C risks coating failure and potential off-gassing or leaching of volatile components.
Limited recyclability due to coating
Grease-resistant coatings complicate PP recycling streams, leading most recyclers to reject these containers. This is not a direct health hazard but reflects end-of-life leakage risk if sent to landfill or incineration.
What’s reassuring
BPA & bisphenols
Polypropylene does not contain BPA or phthalates by design. These hazards are not relevant to PP-based containers unless recycled content or undisclosed additives are used (no evidence here).
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Durable Packaging has not publicly disclosed the chemical composition of its grease-resistant coating or provided third-party testing confirming PFAS-free status. No major safety recalls or certifications (e.g., FDA functional barrier letters, Green Seal, or equivalent) have been documented for this product line. The brand's silence on coating chemistry is a red flag in the context of growing regulatory scrutiny of fluorinated compounds in food contact materials. Transparency is below industry standard for premium food-service suppliers.
How it compares in its category
Polypropylene clamshells are mid-range for food safety compared to alternatives, paper-based hinged containers avoid polymer coatings entirely but lack grease resistance; uncoated PP is cheaper but soaks through with oily foods; sealed glass or aluminum are heavier and costlier. Durable Packaging's undisclosed coating puts it in a weaker position than competitors (e.g., Eco-Products, World Centric) who provide PFAS-free certifications or fluorine-free claims. For disposable food containers, this product's lack of transparency is a meaningful disadvantage.
If you buy it
Limit use to cold and room-temperature foods (salads, baked goods, deli items without hot oils). Do not microwave, place in ovens, or store hot foods above 60°C (140°F), as heat may accelerate coating leaching or degradation. For high-volume operations, contact Durable Packaging directly requesting a safety data sheet for the coating or third-party PFAS testing results before committing to bulk orders. Replace containers if visible cracking, discoloration, or sticky residue develops on the interior surface, which may indicate coating breakdown.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Restaurantware has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More disposable food containers 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.