Really old Tupperware, safe to use or bin it all?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

We’re clearing out my grandmas house and she had loads of old Tupperware. I excitedly brought it all home but I’m now realising that as they’re so old (some of it may actually be from the 40’s/50’s!) that it’s probably actually really toxic and not safe to use.

What should I do with it?

That will be worth a bit to collectors. Real Tupperware lasts for ever. I wouldn't have any worries using it.

Nooo! Unfortunately not. It can be upcycled as retro cactus planters maybe (a set of three vintage tubs grouped together with succulents/cacti could look good! Very 1970s if it's orange and brown or green lol) or used to store things like sewing kit maybe?

It can contain lead and all sorts which leaches out, it's not BPA free, don't put food in it.

It's probably got BPA in which is not ideal, and now banned for food use.

I use my vintage Tupperware for keeping rice and pasta: but still in its packets, which I'm comfortable with. I'd also be fine with using it to transport cakes on top of a cake board/in cases. But I wouldn't want to use them to store "naked" food.

Don't bin it, vintage Tupperware is highly collectable.

Vintage Tupperware like those in your photograph are full of BPA which was banned years ago as a carcinogen, (cancer causing chemical).
However it is collectible as a lot of things are, you could try to sell online but I think you have to state in the description that it is not BPA free which at least advises the buyer not to use it for storing food if that's what they're buying it for.

Well I learnt something today - perhaps do be more careful.

Thanks all, I’ll do some research and maybe try and sell it! It all needs cleaning well though. I suppose being so old it’s probably not dishwasher proof 😅

Thanks for posting as I didn't realise this was an issue. I have no idea if mine is bpa free or not. How can I tell?

You could still use it for non food items. Do you have a shed with random packs of nails like we do?

If it was made after 2010, it's BPA free. Usually plastic items have this kind of clock symbol stamped into them. The two digit number in the centre (14 in this example) is the year.

Earlier than 2010 you need to look at the number near the recycling logo - 7 is bad, and I think 1, 2, 4 and 5 are OK.

For the truly vintage ones it might be worth trying to figure out the range by the design as that will tell you a rough age.

I use the older stuff for things like curtain hooks and glue.

My husband is a builder so all the nails and screws we tend to have come in big boxes of their own 😅

I can’t think of anything else they could be used for, we don’t really have many small things that need storage that don’t already have a home! My sewing stuff has a massive box, my crochet hooks have a pencil case, spare charging cables have a home, hooks, screws and nails have homes…

My DM still uses her original Tupperware for food. She is a hale and hearty 84yo so i don't think i would worry too much!

Well I do suggest check eBay, the orange/olive green type stuff is very collectable amongst mid century vintage people, you can always make it a charity auction.

Don't put it in the dishwasher, the lids warp badly (speaking from experience!).

DS18 take his lunch to school every day in an orange tupperware his gran had since the late 60s, never occurred to me it wouldn't be safe. I guess his food is generally wrapped though.

Thank you @BertieBotts I'll have a check tomorrow.

BPA is mainly a concern if you're heating the plastic with food inside, or cleaning it in a dishwasher because the plastics leech out. Using it to transport cold food is less of a problem.

That said I still have a single weaning bowl left over from when DS1 (now 16) was a baby and I'm sure it isn't BPA free and I tend to use it to heat up baked beans. I probably shouldn't but - it's one bowl in a collection of kitchen stuff. It will eventually wear out, break, or get lost. Currently we are better off than 16 years ago when all of our plastic stuff probably had BPA in it. I can't get too excited over it - I think the legislation is doing it's job perfectly well by reducing our exposure to this kind of thing.