A Message to Tupperware Customers

As a result of media coverage surrounding the FDA's January 2010 statement, some of you may have heard about the use of polycarbonate, and specifically Bisphenol-A, in the manufacturing of various plastic consumer products. I wanted to give all of you an update on this issue.

At Tupperware Brands, we're firmly committed to the safety and well-being of our consultants and consumers of our products worldwide. We've posted a statement which discusses our views on polycarbonate, as well as a Q&A which should help answer any questions you may have about our products containing this material. We are also committed to a continuing review of new materials which improve the performance of our products.

Let's first be clear about the extent of Tupperware's use of polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is NOT used in Tupperware products intended for babies or children, including baby bottles, sippy cups or toys worldwide, nor is polycarbonate used in any products in the U. S. or Canada. Where Tupperware does use polycarbonate it constitutes less than 10 percent of those products. Tupperware has relied on regulatory approvals for the use of this material in food contact products, and the regulators have consistently upheld the safety of this material for uses in products Tupperware has made.

However, while we will continue to monitor this scientific debate that may influence the regulators, including any final decisions of the FDA, we are aware of the attitudes of consumers towards polycarbonate and to the concerns that have arisen about children's products. Consequently, though we do not use polycarbonate in children's products, we have tested and introduced new materials in the U.S. and Canada which improve the performance characteristics of our other products that until now have been produced from polycarbonate.