Butterball · Deli Meat & Cold Cuts Packaging
Butterball Deli Sliced Turkey Pastrami
Lower concern; standard deli meat packaging unlikely to require PFAS treatments, but no brand transparency.
Butterball deli sliced turkey pastrami uses conventional plastic film packaging typical of retail deli meats. Deli packaging does not typically require grease-resistant or water-resistant coatings that would necessitate PFAS, so baseline risk is lower than specialty applications.
Shop Butterball on Amazon →Material
plastic film packaging (likely PET or PP)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Butterball Deli Sliced Turkey Pastrami arrives in plastic film packaging, almost certainly PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or PP (polypropylene) common to refrigerated deli products. These plastics are food-contact approved by FDA and chosen for moisture barrier and shelf stability. The concern is not the base polymer itself but what may migrate into the meat under storage and handling conditions, plus end-of-life disposal.
The brand's record and disclosure
Butterball, owned by Conagra Brands, does not publicly disclose detailed packaging material sourcing or chemical-free certifications for this product line. No major recalls specific to packaging leachables have been on record for this brand's deli meats as of available data. The brand operates under standard FDA food-contact material rules but does not volunteer beyond-compliance transparency on plasticizers or coatings.
How it compares in its category
Butterball deli turkey pastrami uses industry-standard plastic film typical of major national brands (Boar's Head, Oscar Mayer, Hormel). Some premium or organic competitors (Applegate, Organic Prairie) market plastic-free or certified compostable packaging, though at higher cost. Butterball sits in the conventional mainstream tier where plastic film is cost-standard and regulatory compliance, not harm-reduction, drives material choice.
If you buy it
Do not heat the product in its original packaging; transfer to a plate or glass container if warming. Store in the coldest part of your refrigerator (below 40F) and consume within the manufacturer date; longer exposure to chill temperatures can increase polymer contact time. Once opened, reseal or transfer to airtight glass; do not leave the packaging exposed to light or temperature fluctuation, which may weaken the film. Choose glass or ceramic storage for any leftovers, not plastic containers.
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.”
Plasticizer migration (BPA, phthalates) from PET/PP film
PET and PP in food-contact film are inherently lower-risk than older polycarbonate or vinyl, but migration of residual monomers or processing aids into fatty deli meat (which is hydrophobic and lipophilic) under cold storage is theoretically possible over time. No specific recalls for Butterball deli meat on this hazard are on record.
Sodium content and additives in cured meat formulation
Pastrami is a cured, seasoned product typically high in sodium and nitrates/nitrites as preservatives. This is not a packaging hazard but a product formulation concern; the packaging itself does not cause it. Consumers with hypertension or salt sensitivity should check label sodium levels (often 700-900mg per serving) independent of packaging safety.
Ink or adhesive residues on package exterior
Deli meat packaging uses printed labels and thermal-transfer barcodes on the exterior. Migration through the film interior to meat is unlikely under proper storage, but handling wet packages or transferring to damp surfaces could theoretically increase contact risk. Wipe hands after handling and avoid prolonged contact of package with condensation.
PFAS in packaging coating or grease barrier
Deli meat packaging does not inherently require PFAS-based grease barriers as strongly as takeout food containers, but some manufacturers use fluorinated coatings for extended shelf life. Butterball's parent company (Conagra) has not published commitments to PFAS elimination in deli packaging; no test data on this product is publicly available.
Degradation and microplastic shedding in cold storage
PET and PP are stable at refrigeration temperatures. Microplastic shedding from this packaging under normal cold storage is not a documented hazard. Risk only increases if packaging is frozen, repeatedly flexed, or damaged; avoid unnecessary physical stress to the film.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% 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.
More deli meat & cold cuts packaging 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.