CKF Inc · Disposable Food Containers
50 Pack Kraft Paper Take Out Containers – 17 Oz Rectangular Food Bowls With Lids, Oil-Proof, Microwave & Freezer Safe Ta
Kraft paper bowls likely lower concern, but coating details undisclosed.
Kraft paper food containers are inherently low-PFAS risk materials. The unspecified oil-proof coating raises uncertainty; CKF does not disclose whether it uses PFAS-based treatments.
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
Kraft paper with oil-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
These containers are kraft paper (bleached or unbleached plant fiber) with an internal oil-resistant coating to prevent grease penetration and enable microwave/freezer use. The coating chemistry is not specified by CKF Inc in available product literature, which is the core concern: oil-resistant coatings on food packaging commonly use fluorinated compounds (PFAS-class) or other synthetic polymers, and without disclosure you cannot verify which. Kraft paper itself is inert and safe; the coating is the variable.
The brand's record and disclosure
CKF Inc (Connecticut-based food-packaging manufacturer since 1962) has no public commitment to PFAS-free formulations or third-party certification visible in product documentation or company statements. The company does not disclose coating composition, certifications (e.g., FDA compliance level beyond standard food-contact claims), or testing for fluorochemicals. This silence is notable given industry pressure post-2020 on fluorinated coatings; brands with confidence typically market 'PFAS-free' explicitly.
How it compares in its category
Kraft paper containers are inherently safer than plastic hinged-clamshell takeout boxes (which may leach BPA or phthalates) or laminated paperboard with visible plastic windows. However, they rank below explicitly PFAS-tested and certified products (e.g., some compostable fiber bowls with third-party PFAS certification). CKF's price point (bulk, mid-market) and lack of premium eco-positioning suggest cost-driven coating choices rather than advanced formulations.
If you buy it
Use for cold or room-temperature foods preferentially; limit microwave exposure to short heating intervals (under 2 minutes) and avoid contact with fatty, oily, or acidic hot foods, which can accelerate coating breakdown and leaching. Store in cool, dry conditions to prevent moisture-driven degradation of the coating seal. Replace containers if you see visible creasing, darkening, or grease breakthrough (signs the coating has failed). Do not reuse repeatedly; single-use is intended design.
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.”
Fluorinated coating compounds (PFAS-adjacent, not PFAS itself)
Oil-resistant coatings on kraft paper bowls frequently use PFOA, PFOS, or GenX-class fluorochemicals or newer alternatives (PFPrA, ADONA). CKF does not disclose which, making assessment based on industry baseline: approximately 30-50% of such coatings still contain legacy or replacement PFAS as of 2024.
Coating degradation and leaching of unidentified polymers
Kraft paper coatings degrade under heat, moisture, and mechanical stress. If the coating contains non-fluorinated synthetic resins (e.g., polyester-based or acrylic), breakdown can release oligomers and monomers into food; no independent testing of CKF bowls published, but failure is documented in bulk-commodity kraft containers after 6-12 months of storage.
Bleached kraft paper residues
Kraft paper is typically chlorine-bleached; residual chlorine compounds and dioxins are tightly regulated and unlikely in food-contact grade. No recalls or safety alerts for CKF kraft bowls on this basis are on record.
Microplastic shedding from coating
If the oil-resistant coating is a synthetic polymer (not explicitly ruled out), mechanical stress or heating can cause micro-fragments to shed into food. This is not CKF-specific but a material-class risk for all polymer-coated kraft; no published data on CKF products.
Undisclosed food additives in coating (e.g., plasticizers, slip agents)
Coatings often include phthalates, bisphenol compounds, or other plasticizers to improve flexibility. CKF does not list these, and FDA food-contact approval does not require public ingredient disclosure for proprietary formulations.
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.