Solo · Disposable Food Containers
Dart Solo Extra Squat Container 8 oz White 1000 Count
Food contact containers likely coated for grease resistance; PFAS risk unclear.
Dart Solo foam food containers typically use water and grease-resistant coatings, which historically often contain PFAS. Solo makes no public PFAS disclosure for this product.
The safe swap
Lakeland
Sustainables 3 Compartment Hinged Lid To Go Food Container
70/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned its C.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Polystyrene foam with grease-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Dart Solo's Extra Squat 8 oz container is expanded polystyrene foam (EPS), a plastic rated for single-use food contact. The grease-resistant coating is likely a fluorinated compound applied to prevent oil and moisture penetration; manufacturers rarely disclose PFAS explicitly. Polystyrene itself is thermoplastically unstable above 160-170°F and breaks down into styrene monomer and microparticles under stress, heat, or acidic/fatty contact. The foam structure is inherently fragile: physical degradation releases respirable particles and leachates into food.
The brand's record and disclosure
Dart Container Corporation is the largest foam foodservice manufacturer in North America and has faced sustained scrutiny over PFAS in grease-resistant coatings since the early 2020s. The company has not published independent safety testing or PFAS content declarations for this product line. Solo/Dart responded to some pressure by introducing PFAS-free alternatives (marketed as GreenStripe) but continues selling standard foam lines without transparent ingredient listing. No major recalls specific to this SKU are on record, but the brand's silence on coating composition is a material gap.
How it compares in its category
Polystyrene foam containers occupy the middle ground: cheaper and more insulative than molded fiber or paper pulp, but less stable and more chemically complex than uncoated paper or rigid plastic (#5 polypropylene). Most major foodservice competitors (Huhtamaki, Genpak, Sweetheart) sell EPS foam with identical coating chemistry and disclosure gaps. Compostable alternatives (PLA, bagasse) avoid polystyrene but introduce different thermal limits. For cold soups, dips, and dry foods, foam is industry-standard; for anything above 140°F or prolonged contact, alternatives pose lower leach risk.
If you buy it
Use only for cold or room-temperature contents; do not reheat food in these containers in microwaves or ovens (styrene leaching accelerates above 160°F). Avoid prolonged contact with fatty, acidic, or oily foods (salad dressings, hot sauce, cheese) as polystyrene degrades in these conditions. Do not pre-fill and store for weeks; use within days of filling. Replace containers immediately if foam shows visible crazing, cracking, or discoloration. If sustainability or chemical exposure are concerns, switch to molded fiber (#1 paperboard) or rigid PP (#5) for the same application.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Styrene monomer leaching and microplastics
Polystyrene foam in hot or acidic food environments releases styrene (a possible human carcinogen per IARC Group 2B) and plastic microparticles. Contact time, temperature, and food composition all increase leach rate; 8 oz soups stored warm show measurable styrene in peer-reviewed studies.
PFAS in grease-resistant coating
Dart has not disclosed coating chemistry. Fluorinated compounds are standard for oil/moisture barriers in foam; PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, GenX) are common active ingredients, but absence of public testing means risk cannot be ruled out or confirmed for this specific SKU.
Thermal instability and degradation
EPS foam loses structural integrity above 160-170°F and begins degrading visibly at 180°F. Reheating food in foam containers or exposure to hot liquids causes foam embrittlement, particle shedding, and accelerated monomer release.
Chemical reactivity with fats and solvents
Polystyrene is soluble in oils, alcohol, and limonene; fatty foods and acidic dressings can dissolve or soften foam, increasing leaching. Extended storage of these contents in foam shows visible foam degradation and increased styrene levels.
Disclosure and traceability gaps
Dart does not publish material safety data sheets (MSDS) for consumer foam products or confirm the specific coating used. End users cannot independently verify PFAS content or heavy metals in inks/additives, creating blind-spot risk for sensitive populations.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 45% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Disposable Food Containers
Lakeland
Sustainables 3 Compartment Hinged Lid To Go Food Container
Molded fiber/pulp (plant-based)
Lower concern. Molded fiber food containers unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Lakeland
Hefty Food Service Containers Rectangle 9 3/4" x 5" x 3 1/4" 125 ct
Polypropylene (disposable food containers)
Lower concern, but brand discloses nothing about PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Rubbermaid
TakeAlongs Food Storage Containers 10 Piece Set
polypropylene plastic containers with lids
Lower concern; basic plastic food storage with no known PFAS triggers.
⚠Risky category by default
More disposable food containers grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.