Rubbermaid Pack & Go Bento Box
Lower concern; polypropylene bento unlikely to contain PFAS.
Rubbermaid Pack and Go uses polypropylene, a food-contact plastic with lower PFAS risk than Teflon-family coating coatings. The brand provides no PFAS disclosure, but the material itself is not a known PFAS source.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
polypropylene plastic container
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Rubbermaid Pack & Go Bento Box is made of, ingredients and materials
The Rubbermaid Pack & Go is polypropylene (PP, #5 plastic), a rigid thermoplastic chosen for food storage because it resists staining and odor absorption better than softer plastics. Polypropylene does not contain BPA by design, as it is produced without bisphenol A in the polymerization process. It is microwave-safe at moderate temperatures (up to 160-170°C, though Rubbermaid typically rates this product for reheating only, not sustained heat), and has a relatively high thermal stability compared to lower-numbered plastics like #1 (PET) or #3 (PVC).
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 migration
At ambient or gentle reheating temperatures (below 70°C), microplastic release from intact PP is negligible. Abrasion from dishwashing or sharp utensils over years may generate fine particles; risk increases if the container is scratched or used with very hot liquids above manufacturer guidance.
Monomer or additive leaching
Polypropylene oligomers and antioxidant additives may migrate into fatty or acidic foods at temperatures above 60°C. This product is designed for cold/room-temperature storage; use outside that scope (e.g., storing hot soup long-term) increases this risk, though absolute migration levels remain within FDA compliance ranges at short exposure.
Lid seal degradation and bacterial growth
Rubber or silicone gaskets on the lid can degrade, crack, or harbor bacteria if not cleaned thoroughly after each use. Check seals monthly; replace the lid if visible wear or odor develops, as seal failure compromises food safety more than the container material itself.
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 not manufactured with BPA; no secondary additives named on product labeling and no recalls or complaints on record for this product class.
Source, FDA ↗Phthalates
Phthalate plasticizers are not used in polypropylene formulations; they are restricted to soft PVC and some flexible polyesters. No evidence or recall suggests phthalate presence in Rubbermaid PP bento boxes.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Rubbermaid is a Newell subsidiary with a long history in food storage and does not publicly emphasize PFAS absence in marketing, but has never faced a significant recall or enforcement action specific to this product line for chemical leaching. The brand meets FDA food-contact regulations for plastic additives and has maintained compliance with FDA Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 (plastics). No major certifications (e.g., BPA-free labeling, third-party testing) are marketed on this specific product, reflecting the inherent safety of the polypropylene resin itself rather than an active brand position.
How it compares in its category
Polypropylene bento boxes are among the lowest-concern food storage containers; they carry no known phthalate burden (phthalates are plasticizers used in PVC and soft PET, not PP) and no documented migration of heavy metals or dioxins at normal food temperatures. Glass or stainless-steel bento boxes offer marginally lower migration risk in theory, but polypropylene is considered a safe, mainstream choice across regulatory bodies including the FDA and European Food Safety Authority. Rubbermaid's rigid PP formulation is comparable to Pyrex, Sistema, and OmieBox offerings in the same category.
If you buy it
Do not microwave food in this container for extended periods; use it for cold or room-temperature storage, or transfer to glass/ceramics for reheating. Check the lid seals and container body for cracks or cloudiness over time; polypropylene can become brittle after 2-3 years of heavy dishwasher cycles. Avoid prolonged contact with oils, citrus, or acidic foods at elevated temperatures, as these may increase minor monomer leaching. Hand-wash if possible to extend the container's lifespan and reduce stress on the material.
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
- Rubbermaid 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.