05/27/2026
Most pet parents focus on what’s in their pet’s bowl🥣, but this conversation shows that what the food is stored in matters just as much!
Materials like glass, food grade ceramic, and stainless steel sit at the top because they’re inert and don’t interact with food, while plastics fall into a spectrum depending on their type, quality, and condition. More stable plastics like #2, #4, and #5 can be reasonable options, but they’re still not completely inert, especially over time with exposure to fats, heat, and wear. Lower-quality or unknown plastics ( #3, #6, 7) raise more concern due to additives and higher potential for chemical migration, particularly when containers become scratched, cloudy, or degraded. Silicone is stable for short term use, but capable of absorbing oils and odours with long-term use.
One of the most practical takeaways is that storage habits matter: keeping kibble in its original bag and placing the whole bag inside a container helps reduce direct contact and preserves freshness. It’s nearly impossible to eliminate plastic entirely, but reducing long-term exposure from everyday storage is possible.
