Sistema · Lunch Boxes & Food Containers
Esquirla Lunch Box Stainless Steel Leakproof Rectangle Portable Food Container Reusable Stackable Meal Prep Container wi
Lower PFAS concern; bare stainless steel container with no coating.
Stainless steel lunch box with silicone seals, inherently PFAS-resistant material. No nonstick or waterproof treatments typical of PFAS use. Brand offers no PFAS disclosure.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
stainless steel and silicone gaskets
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Silicone gasket degradation
Repeated dishwasher cycles and exposure to strong detergents or oils may cause silicone gaskets to crack, swell, or absorb odors after 1-2 years of heavy use. Monitor for loss of seal integrity.
Stainless steel pitting/corrosion
Prolonged contact with chlorine (bleach), salt, or acidic foods can cause microscopic pitting in stainless steel over months to years. This is cosmetic rather than toxic but may compromise the seal area.
What’s reassuring
Uncoated safe material
Bare, uncoated material (cast iron, stainless, carbon steel, or glass) with no surface treatment to contain PFAS.
Microplastic from lid or latch components
If the product includes plastic latches or handles (not specified in full listing), these could shed microplastics with wear. Stainless container body itself poses no microplastic risk.
BPA & bisphenols
No public information indicates this model uses BPA-containing latches, and stainless-silicone designs typically avoid them. If present, any plastic latch would be a minor contact point (not food-contact).
Source: FDA ↗Heavy metals
Food-grade stainless steel (18/8 or higher) does not leach chromium, nickel, or iron at levels of concern under normal storage. No recalls or testing alerts exist for Sistema stainless containers.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This lunch box uses food-grade stainless steel (typically 18/8 or 18/10 chromium-nickel alloy) as the primary container, which is inert and does not leach metals under normal use conditions. The seal relies on silicone gaskets rather than plastic components like BPA-containing polycarbonate or polypropylene. Stainless steel avoids the microplastic shedding risk present in some plastic containers, and silicone gaskets are resistant to degradation from typical food storage and moderate heating.
The brand's record and disclosure
Sistema is a New Zealand-based kitchenware manufacturer with no major documented recalls or safety controversies specific to stainless steel food containers. The brand does not publicly disclose PFAS testing or supply-chain transparency policies, which is standard silence for cookware/storage manufacturers rather than a red flag. No independent testing has flagged Sistema stainless products for heavy metal leaching or coating hazards.
How it compares in its category
Stainless steel lunch boxes rank among the safer food storage options compared to polycarbonate or acrylic plastic alternatives, which carry BPA/BPS or phthalate risks. Glass containers offer equal or slightly better inertness but break more easily and are heavier. Silicone gaskets are chemically stable compared to plastic lid latches, reducing long-term wear hazards in repeated wash-and-heat cycles typical of meal-prep use.
If you buy it
Hand wash or use a warm cycle; stainless steel tolerates dishwashing but silicone gaskets degrade faster with repeated high heat. Inspect gaskets every 6-12 months for cracks, discoloration, or odor, and replace if present. Avoid prolonged contact with acidic foods (vinegar, citrus) at room temperature, as stainless steel can pit slightly over years. The container is food-safe up to moderate heat (not intended for oven baking); do not microwave with the metal lid sealed.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 78% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Sistema has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More lunch boxes & 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.