Ello Benni Kids Bento Lunch Box with Carry Handle & Ice Pack
Lower concern. Standard food-grade plastics rarely treated with PFAS.
Ello's bento boxes use common food-safe plastics without stated coatings or water treatments. No public PFAS risk signals, though no explicit brand disclosure either.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
BPA-free plastic (polypropylene/silicone), ice pack gel
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Ello Benni Kids Bento Lunch Box is made of, ingredients and materials
This bento box is constructed from polypropylene (PP, #5 plastic) and silicone compartments, both of which are considered food-safe plastics with low leaching potential at normal temperatures. Polypropylene has no known carcinogenic additives in food-contact grades and is explicitly BPA-free as marketed. The ice pack contains a gel (typically sodium polyacrylate or propylene glycol based), which remains sealed inside a plastic housing and does not contact food directly.
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.
Leaching from ice pack gel
Ice pack contents (typically sodium polyacrylate or propylene glycol) are non-toxic if ingested in small amounts but are sealed; risk exists only if the pack ruptures and gel contacts food directly, which is avoidable with inspection and proper storage.
Microplastics
Prolonged use, dishwashing, or degradation of polypropylene can shed microfibers; risk is minimized by hand washing, avoiding dishwasher, and replacing the box when signs of embrittlement appear.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Phthalates
Food-grade polypropylene does not typically require phthalate plasticizers; Ello does not disclose testing but no recalls or complaints specific to phthalate contamination in this product line are on record.
Source, ATSDR ↗BPA & bisphenols
Product is marketed as BPA-free, and polypropylene homopolymers do not inherently contain BPA. No evidence that Ello substitutes BPS or other bisphenol analogs in this bento line.
Source, FDA ↗Heavy metals
Ello does not disclose pigment sourcing or test results for lead, cadmium, or antimony; food-contact plastic regulations in the US and EU restrict heavy metals, but brand does not provide transparency on compliance.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Ello does not publicly disclose detailed material sourcing, manufacturing certifications, or third-party test results on their website. The brand makes a BPA-free claim but provides no information on phthalate testing, heavy metals, or manufacturing oversight. No product-specific safety recalls or complaints have been documented in public databases for this bento model. The brand's silence on PFAS, antimicrobial coatings, or additives beyond BPA suggests a minimal disclosure posture rather than a negative safety record.
How it compares in its category
Ello bentos are mid-market food storage products and align with mainstream polypropylene lunch containers in chemical risk profile. Premium alternatives (glass, stainless steel) eliminate plastic leaching entirely but cost 2-3x more. Budget plastic lunch boxes offer no material advantage and may use recycled or lower-grade resins. This product sits in the safety mainstream for plastic bento boxes with no known manufacturing or material disadvantages versus comparable brands.
If you buy it
Do not microwave the polypropylene base or lid; warming food risks softening the polymer and potential migration of residual monomers (polypropylene itself is stable, but trace oligomers can leach at elevated temperatures). Hand wash rather than dishwasher to extend coating life and reduce stress on seals. Replace the box if the silicone seals crack, the plastic becomes cloudy or brittle, or the ice pack ruptures. Store away from direct sunlight to slow polymer degradation over years of use.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Ello has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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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.