Are Acrylic Canisters BPA-Free? Understanding Food Safety in Plastic Storage

People are becoming increasingly aware of how making the right purchasing choices can significantly impact their well being. Whether it’s deciding which food to buy or which containers to store it in, these decisions affect your health and longevity.

Consequently, manufacturers of food storage containers are listening to a chorus of demands coming from consumers asking for food storage canisters that don’t harm the food families ingest. Certain canisters, most particularly plastic ones, may contain a chemical called BPA, (which stands for bisphenol A) known to potentially pose health risks. Acrylic canisters, on the other hand, present no risks to food, which just might explain why these food storage options are surging in popularity right across the world, and why they might be the perfect solution to your kitchen’s food storage needs.

Let’s dive into the science behind BPA, the safety of acrylic canisters, and why they may be the perfect solution for your kitchen.

Understanding BPA and Its Health Concerns

Consumers have become increasingly tuned into the importance of healthy foods and the risks of chemicals in all facets of life. Consequently, BPA in plastic food containers is now viewed with a cautious eye.

What exactly is BPA?

According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration, BPA is, most simply, a chemical that is used during the making of plastics and resins. It is far more commonplace than you may realize. It can be found inside metal pop cans, for example, and plastic water bottles. It’s valuable because it makes plastic last longer. However, as its use has become more commonplace, so too have concerns about its safety and possible health risks.

What are the risks of BPA exposure?

BPA has been linked to various health issues. Some studies suggest that BPA can seep into food and liquids, not only during storage but also when that stored food is reheated. Some research suggests that BPA can disrupt the production of hormones, and can interfere with endocrine delivery. BPA, when ingested frequently over a period of time, starts behaving like hormones do, and may interrupt your body’s natural, organic method of producing hormones. That interruption can cause several health challenges. For example:

• Reproductive hurdles.
• Hormone imbalances.
• Cardiovascular disease.
• Potential risk of some cancers.
• Risk of developmental issues in children.

These risks have prompted many regulatory bodies and consumer organizations to push for stricter regulations of BPA usage, and urged manufacturers to devise alternatives to BPA for use when making plastic food storage containers and other products. In certain countries, using BPA when making things like baby bottles is outright banned. Other products, like plastic food storage containers, come with a warning label in some countries.

Moving to BPA-free products

Because consumers and manufacturers alike are well aware of the risks of BPA exposure, both sectors are moving away from it – makers of food storage canisters aren’t using it, and consumers aren’t buying containers (and other products) that have it. Both groups are becoming increasingly aware of the health dangers associated with exposure to BPA, especially over a long period of time.

 

What Are Acrylic Canisters Made Of?

Weighing the safety concerns of food storage containers means it’s vital to know what certain materials are, and whether they pose any health risks to your family.

Introduction to Acrylic as a material

Acrylic, also known as Plexiglass, is a versatile product that looks a lot like glass, but it isn’t as fragile or breakable, which means it lasts longer. Acrylic is often used in many household products, such as food storage containers. Do you remember all those dividers installed between folks in shops, banks, and other places during the pandemic? Those were made of acrylic! It’s an incredibly versatile material that can be used to make everything from see-through barriers like those dividers to aquariums for your child’s fish collection.

One of the biggest benefits of acrylic canisters for food storage is that you can see right through them, so you know exactly when you’re running low on a particular item. For example: let’s say that you keep pastry flour and sugar in acrylic canisters. You can track how low your supply is just by glancing at the containers on your pantry shelf.

Acrylic’s chemical makeup

What matters most, in a sense, is what acrylic does not contain: it has no BPA. It’s made from a plastic known as polymethyl methacrylate, or PMMA. The product is clear, durable, and light, all of which make it perfect for food storage containers.

Is acrylic truly BPA-free?

The short answer is yes. Acrylic canisters are BPA-free because they contain PMMA and therefore don’t need BPA in production. What this ensures is that you can use acrylic canisters for food storage without worrying that chemicals are leeching into the food stored within them. This makes acrylic canisters the safest choice for all your storage needs.

 

The Benefits of Using BPA-Free Acrylic Canisters for Food Storage

Acrylic canisters offer multiple advantages that make them a safe and reliable choice for food storage.

Safety & health

Naturally, the greatest benefit of using acrylic canisters is what you’re not getting – the BPA we mentioned earlier. Even when your storage shelves get hot on a summer day, that heat doesn’t provoke unwanted changes in the acrylic, which could impact food. You can store virtually anything you like in them, whether it’s granola bars for your kid’s after-school snack, pasta, flour, sugar, coffee – the list is almost endless! Acrylic canisters are the ideal storage option for almost any product, as they keep your food germ-free and fresh. That’s why acrylic material is also popular for drinkware, as it offers practical, durable solutions for everyday use.

See-through convenience

One of the most convenient aspects of acrylic canisters is that they’re transparent. That means that just a quick glance allows you to see how much of a given product you’ve got on hand. You can keep note of when you purchased something and when its “best before” date is, and make sure you resupply before running out.

Durability

Acrylic canisters are even more durable and less heavy than glass containers. These features mean that acrylic canisters are in fact safer than other ones, particularly in a small, busy kitchen in which children are running around. Acrylic canisters don’t scratch easily, which lets them stay attractive for long periods of time.

Light & Shatter-proof

Acrylic canisters are much more lightweight than glass ones. This feature means that moving them, refilling them, wiping down the exteriors – all these chores are a breeze.

Eco-friendly considerations

Because they are durable, they are sustainable. Any products like these that work well for an extended period are, by definition, better for the environment than others that might shatter or crack. Choosing acrylic canisters means you’re putting less plastic into the world, even if you recycle it. More than 50 percent of everything that goes into your recycle bin eventually ends up in landfill; that’s an alarming statistic for those folks who want to be environmentally conscious. Buying acrylic canisters means you don’t have to worry about replacing these food storage units for a long, long time.

 

How to Identify BPA-Free Plastic Containers?

To ensure your family’s food is safe, it’s vital that you know how to recognize plastic food storage containers that contain BPA, and how to know the ones that don’t. Here are a few tips for identifying BPA-free containers:

Read the labels

This is your best bet for finding out whether a storage container contains BPA. Lots of companies use “BPA-free” stickers to promote their message about offering safe products. Labels usually contain brief wording like, “BPA-free!” or something similar to reassure consumers that safety is a priority. If you have any concerns or questions about a particular product, go online and check the manufacturer’s website for further information and clarification.

Learn recycling codes

Plastic containers often display recycling codes, which help identify the type of plastic used. While code 3 (PVC) and certain code 7 plastics (like polycarbonate) may contain BPA, not all code 7 plastics are harmful. In fact, acrylic and Tritan, both marked with code 7, are BPA-free and safe for food storage. Only polycarbonate items contain BPA. Other BPA-free code 7 plastics include melamine, PLA compostables, and plastic blends. Always check for BPA-free labels to ensure the safety of your containers.

Choose brands you trust that are certified

Many manufacturers are open about whether they use certain chemicals when making their products. Look for certifications from organizations like the FDA (the Food & Drug Administration), which verify that a company’s products are safe choices for your food storage needs. These certifications can offer you the extra reassurance you need that a company has gone the extra mile to assure you that they’ve met the strict, high standards of a well-respected government agency like the FDA.

 

Are Acrylic Canisters Safe for All Types of Food Storage?

Acrylic canisters are ideal for storing all kinds of foods, but it’s important that you’re aware of which products are best suited to them.

What are the best uses for acrylic canisters?

Acrylic canisters are ideal for storing many foods, particularly dry goods like pasta, flour, sugar, and cocoa. They are also perfect for organizing small pantry items like spices and coffee beans. As they come equipped with airtight seals, you can rest assured that the foods you store in them will stay as fresh as the day you bought them!

Are acrylic canisters useful for liquids and oily foods?

You can store both in acrylic canisters, but with a caveat: don’t do it for a long period of time. Oily material may impact the color and texture of the acrylic. They may even cause the acrylic to warp. Consequently, we suggest that you skip storing these products in acrylic canisters and use, instead, glass or stainless steel.

Does temperature impact acrylic canisters?

In a word, yes! Acrylic canisters are not designed to withstand high heat, like the temperatures used to reheat food in a microwave. Even placing them in your dishwasher might alter their appearance, so we recommend hand washing them and leaving them to air dry.

 

Acrylic Canisters vs. Other Food Storage Options

Let’s look at the benefits and drawbacks of other storage containers, like those made of stainless steel or ceramic.

Acrylic vs. Glass

Glass containers are also transparent, just like acrylic. However, glass containers are heavier and likely to break or crack if you drop them. If you’re a parent with young kids running around at suppertime when you’re trying to cook, it’s best to avoid glass units that might get knocked off a counter or shelf. Acrylic containers are every bit as attractive, but they weigh less and won’t shatter.

Acrylic vs. Stainless Steel

Stainless steel lasts a long time, and you can purchase food storage containers that are very attractive – both are big benefits. Furthermore, you can store certain oily items in them. However, they are not see-through, and are heavier than acrylic containers. Overall, acrylic is the better choice for food storage canisters.

Acrylic vs. Polycarbonate and Polypropylene

Polycarbonate may contain BPA, which makes it a less safe kind of plastic storage container. Polypropylene doesn’t contain BPA, usually, but it’s not transparent. Acrylic is both see-through and BPA-free – a win-win for all your food storage needs!

 

In Summary

Food storage containers are an essential part of all well-organized kitchens, especially when your priority is keeping your family safe and healthy. We know it isn’t just your food choices that matter – it’s how you store it that counts, so it lasts a long time and stays healthy and germ-free.

How you store food is every bit as important as what you buy. That’s why acrylic canisters are the smart choice for storing almost every food you need to have on hand, to keep your busy kitchen running smoothly, and to keep your family healthy, happy, and well-fed!