Yes — PLA (polylactic acid) bioplastic is food-safe in the same way that other food-grade plastics are: it's been tested for direct food contact and certified for use with cutlery, dry food, and the kinds of items that pass through a kitchen drawer.
What food-safe actually means
Food-safe means the plastic doesn't leach harmful substances into food at normal use temperatures. PLA bioplastic is plant-derived (typically from cornstarch or sugarcane), and the food-grade variant used in Modu Drawer modules is certified for direct food contact under EU and US food-contact standards.
What food-safe doesn't mean
Food-safe is not the same as heat-safe. PLA softens at around 60°C — well below dishwasher cycles, well below boiling water. Two practical rules:
- Don't put modules in the dishwasher. Hand-wash with mild soap.
- Don't pour boiling water on them. If a kettle splashes one, wipe it dry — don't soak.
What about microplastics?
PLA biodegrades under industrial composting conditions, but in a kitchen drawer it behaves like any other rigid plastic — stable, no shedding under normal use. The microplastic risk is the same as a plastic chopping board (low) and lower than a worn-out plastic cutlery tray that's been through years of dishwasher cycles.
For the full care guidance, see the cutlery drawer organiser guide.