In 2016, my friend and colleague, Nancy Lascher, became involved with Beautycounter, and I learned a startling fact: the United States is one of the few countries that doesn’t regulate the ingredients in skin care products, and Beautycounter is one of the few companies committed to making skin care products without any harmful ingredients.

As a professional organizer, I never paid much attention to the composition of the products I used to contain and corral my clients’ clutter. Yet, the cancer diagnoses of several friends and clients over the past two years has led me to take a closer look. This week, I cohosted an event with Lara Metz about healthy snacks and food storage containers.

While I don’t profess to being an expert on the chemical composition of organizing products, one of my team members (and cancer surviver), compiled this summary of chemicals to avoid in food storage containers and a list of some recommended products. As we learn more, this list will evolve, and we encourage you to share what you know, so we can provide the most up to date information.

Avoid the following chemicals in food storage containers:

BPA – Bisphenol A Plastic
– Increased risk of cancer
– Sexual and reproductive issues
– ADHD and other developmental disorders
– Endocrine disruption

BPS – Bisphenol S Plastic
– Endocrine disruption

Phthalates
– Early puberty
– Autism
– Obesity
– Birth defects
– Hormone disruptor

Consider Using These Non-Toxic Food Storage Containers

1. Glass:
– Doesn’t absorb smells from food
– Usually safe for dishwasher, microwave, refrigerator
– Can be recycled
– Use tempered glass dishes for the best durability
– Pyrex
– Jars

2. Ceramic
– Can be used in microwave, oven, dishwasher, and freezer
– Look for brands that specify that they are free of lead or cadmium which can be found in some ceramic glazes
– Corningware

3. Stainless Steel
– Can be used in the oven, stove and freezer, but not microwave safe
– Lightweight
– Look for stainless marked Type 304 which is the most resistant to corrosion
– Lunchbots

4. Silicone
– Great for storage, not for use in microwave, oven or dishwasher
– Silicone stretch top lids or suction lids turn bowls into storage containers
– Collapse It
– Silicone Suction Lids

5. Plastics that don’t contain BPA
– Look for plastics with recycling labels #1, #2 and #4. Products marked with “PC” or #7 contain BPA
– Good Grips 5-Piece Container Set

6. Alternatives for Aluminum Foil and Plastic Wrap
– Natural parchment paper for cooking and storage
– Organic cotton bags and pouches for bread, fruits and veggies: Vejibag
– Waxed Cotton Wraps: Bee’s Wrap and Beeswax Cotton Wraps

7. Non-Toxic Cookware
– Cast Iron
– Stainless Steel
– Oven Safe Glass