Lakeland · Disposable Food Containers
12 oz Rectangle Aluminum Take Out Container with Polka Dot Paper Lid
Lower concern but unconfirmed, paper lid may have water-resistant coating.
Aluminum containers themselves pose lower PFAS risk, but the paper polka-dot lid often gets water-resistant coatings of unknown makeup. Lakeland makes no PFAS disclosure for this product.
The safe swap
Rubbermaid
Rubbermaid TakeAlongs Divided Food Storage Container
70/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Good.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Aluminum container with paper polka-dot lid
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent treatments have historically contained PFAS chemicals.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Paper lid coating composition (unverified)
Lakeland does not disclose whether the polka-dot lid uses wax, clay, silicone, or synthetic polymer coating. PFAS-free claims are not made; some paper food coatings historically contained fluorinated compounds, though this is not confirmed for this product.
Mold or bacterial growth in reused containers
Paper absorbs moisture and degrades over time, creating conditions for microbial growth if containers are stored damp or reused multiple times without proper cleaning and drying.
Degradation and loss of barrier integrity
Paper lids are inherently temporary; moisture and grease permeability increase significantly after 4-6 weeks of storage. No durability lifespan is specified by Lakeland, and lid coating will gradually fail with age and thermal cycling.
What’s reassuring
Aluminum leaching (minor risk)
Aluminum does not leach into neutral pH or basic foods at ambient or warm temperatures. Risk is negligible for typical use (sandwiches, baked goods, cold salads) and absent in short-term contact.
Microplastic or coating migration (unlikely in normal use)
Paper lids do not shed microplastics. Risk of coating particles entering food is low unless the lid is physically damaged or exposed to solvents or extreme heat.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This product combines food-grade aluminum (the container) with paper composite (the lid). Aluminum is inert in neutral pH foods and does not leach significantly into acidic or fatty foods at room temperature or moderate heat. The polka-dot paper lid is a multi-ply composite designed for moisture and grease resistance, which typically requires a coating, most often wax, clay, or synthetic polymer, whose exact composition Lakeland does not publicly disclose.
The brand's record and disclosure
Lakeland is a UK-based kitchenware and home products retailer with no documented safety recalls or formal chemical disclosure policies on this product line. The company does not publish ingredient lists or coating specifications for disposable food packaging. No independent third-party certifications (such as FDA compliance statements or compostability claims) are prominently advertised for this container, limiting transparency on lid safety.
How it compares in its category
Aluminum take-out containers are the industry standard for food service and are generally considered safer than plastic clamshells for hot or fatty foods, since aluminum does not risk leaching plasticizers or BPA. However, paper lids are more variable than rigid closures; the coating composition directly affects contamination risk. Comparable products from major foodservice distributors often lack detailed coating disclosure, making this product neither notably better nor worse in transparency.
If you buy it
Use these containers for foods at or below 60°C (140°F) to avoid excessive thermal stress on the paper lid. Avoid prolonged contact with acidic foods (vinegar, citrus) or high-fat foods, which may degrade the lid coating over time. Store in a cool, dry place before use; do not reuse containers repeatedly as the paper softens and loses integrity. Replace immediately if the lid shows visible wear, staining, or odor, as coating degradation may compromise barrier function.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 62% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Lakeland has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Disposable Food Containers
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⚠Risky category by default
Rubbermaid
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Microplastics
Limited concern
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Limited concern
Odor absorption and food flavor transfer
Moderate concern
Lower concern for PFAS, no Teflon-family coating coatings typical of this type.
⚠Risky category by default
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.