Forget Plastic Lunch Boxes. Use Glass or #5 Plastic.

If you’re worried about BPA in your office lunch, switch to glass or polypropylene (#5 plastic). Those won’t leach BPA.

The problem is old or cheap plastic containers. Most modern plastic lunch boxes are actually BPA-free, but you can’t tell by looking. Flip it over and check the recycling number. #5 (polypropylene) is your safest plastic pick — it’s BPA-free and handles microwave heat fine. Avoid #3 (PVC) and #7 (polycarbonate), which are the ones known for BPA problems.

Even better: use a glass container with a plastic lid. Glass won’t leach anything, and you just pop the lid off before microwaving. Ceramic and silicone are also safe. And don’t trust “microwave safe” as a BPA guarantee — that label only means the dish won’t melt in the microwave, not that it’s chemical-free.

If your building has a shared microwave, also remember that plastic can warp or stain over time. If it’s scratched or cloudy, replace it. That’s where “safe” gets less safe.

Future You deserves better than mystery chemicals with your lunch.