PlanetBox Shuttle Lunch Box
Lower concern. Stainless steel construction with plastic latch, no coating on record.
PlanetBox Shuttle is made of stainless steel with a plastic latch. No water-repellent finish, nonstick coating, or stain treatment is on record. The brand has no PFAS statement on record.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
stainless steel with plastic latch
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What PlanetBox Shuttle Lunch Box is made of, ingredients and materials
The PlanetBox Shuttle is constructed primarily of food-grade stainless steel, which is chemically inert and does not leach metals into food under normal use conditions. The latch mechanism is plastic (material type not publicly specified by brand, but typically polypropylene or ABS in this product category). Stainless steel's passive oxide layer resists corrosion and is unaffected by acidic or salty foods, making it a lower concern material for long-term food contact.
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.
Plastic latch degradation and polymer leaching
The plastic latch material is not publicly disclosed by Simple Modern. If it is polypropylene or ABS, degradation risk is low under normal conditions, but repeated thermal stress or contact with fatty foods may cause minor polymer breakdown over years of use. No test data is available for this specific product.
Bacterial growth in insulated compartments
If the latch fails or seals improperly, trapped moisture in insulated wall cavities can promote bacterial or mold growth. This is a maintenance issue, not an inherent material hazard, and is mitigated by keeping the box dry after washing.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Nickel release from stainless steel
Food-grade stainless steel (typically 304 or 316) is designed to be nickel-stable and does not leach detectable nickel into food under normal use. No reports of nickel sensitivity issues linked to stainless steel lunch boxes exist in public safety literature.
Microplastics
The stainless steel body does not shed microplastics. The plastic latch is not designed for direct food contact and does not fragment into food under normal use conditions.
Source, EPA ↗Heavy metals
Stainless steel lunch boxes do not typically use protective coatings that contain lead, cadmium, or antimony. No surface treatment hazards are documented for this product category.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Simple Modern has not published detailed material safety disclosures or third-party certifications (such as FDA confirmation or heavy-metal testing results) on the Shuttle model. The brand's silence on PFAS use in coatings is typical for stainless steel products, which generally do not require Teflon-type coating or aqueous film-forming compound treatments. No recalls or safety violations specific to this model have been reported in public databases.
How it compares in its category
Stainless steel lunch boxes occupy a premium safety tier compared to plastic-only containers, which carry BPA, BPS, and phthalate leaching risks, especially when exposed to heat or acidic foods. The Shuttle's all-steel body avoids the microplastic shedding risk present in some coated aluminum or ceramic-lined containers. The plastic latch is a minor contact point and not intended for direct food contact, positioning this product as a lower-risk choice in the reusable lunch-box market.
If you buy it
Keep the plastic latch dry and avoid prolonged exposure to heat above 160 degrees Fahrenheit, as repeated thermal stress can degrade polymers. Inspect the latch for cracks or brittleness annually and replace the box if the latch breaks, since a compromised seal may allow bacterial growth in the insulated interior. Hand wash rather than dishwashing to extend latch lifespan. The stainless steel body will not degrade and can be used indefinitely if kept dry between uses.
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
- Planetbox 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.