Rubbermaid LunchBlox · Lunch Boxes
Rubbermaid LunchBlox Side Cups
Lower concern; basic rigid plastic containers, but brand offers no PFAS disclosure.
LunchBlox side cups are rigid plastic food containers with no published PFAS claims or testing. Rigid plastic food containers have lower inherent PFAS risk than coated or treated items, though no third-party verification exists for this product line.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
plastic (likely polypropylene or polyethylene)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Rubbermaid LunchBlox Side Cups is made of, ingredients and materials
Rubbermaid LunchBlox Side Cups are rigid plastic, almost certainly polypropylene (PP) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), both common food-contact plastics with relatively stable chemical profiles. Neither material is known to leach BPA or BPS under normal use. PP and HDPE do not off-gas formaldehyde or release phthalates at room temperature, and neither degrades into microplastics through ordinary handling or cool/ambient food storage.
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.
Microplastics
Heating these cups beyond their thermal limits (above 70°C) or repeated thermal cycling can cause warping or micro-cracking. Use of hot foods or dishwasher heat accelerates this risk; hand-wash and cool-food use minimize concern.
Source, EPA ↗Mold or bacterial growth if not dried
Rigid plastic cups with tight-fitting lids can trap moisture if not fully air-dried between uses. This is a hygiene risk rather than a chemical one; proper drying and ventilation prevent it.
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 and HDPE are not formulated with BPA or BPS. No record of these chemicals in Rubbermaid LunchBlox products.
Source, FDA ↗Phthalates
Rigid food-grade PP and HDPE do not typically use phthalate plasticizers. Rubbermaid has no documented phthalate contamination in this product line.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating or additive leaching
No coatings, glazes, or non-polymer surface treatments are documented on Rubbermaid LunchBlox side cups. The hazard profile is the base plastic material alone.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Rubbermaid, owned by Newell Brands, does not publicly disclose PFAS content or PFAS-free certification for this product line. The brand has no documented history of recalls or safety issues specific to LunchBlox side cups. Rubbermaid maintains FDA compliance for food-contact plastics but offers minimal transparency on chemical additives beyond regulatory minimum.
How it compares in its category
Rigid PP or HDPE side cups are mainstream in lunch-box systems and pose lower concern than flexible plastic films or coated paper containers, which carry higher microplastic or coating-degradation risk. Competitor products (e.g., Bentgo, Sistema) use similar materials and carry equivalent or less documented safety information. Glass alternatives eliminate plastic leaching entirely but add weight and breakage risk in lunch settings.
If you buy it
Do not heat these cups in a microwave or dishwasher; PP and HDPE can warp or leach additives if exposed to sustained heat above 70°C. Use for cold or room-temperature foods only. Hand-wash with warm soapy water and inspect annually for cracks, cloudiness, or permanent stains, which may indicate polymer degradation; replace if visible damage occurs. Store away from direct sunlight and extreme heat to extend material life.
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
- Rubbermaid LunchBlox 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.