Georgia-Pacific · Grease-Resistant Paper Goods
Kraft Unbleached Butcher Paper Roll
Unbleached butcher paper likely has grease-resistant PFAS treatment, unclear.
Kraft butcher paper typically uses waterproof, grease-resistant coatings on food-contact surfaces. Georgia-Pacific does not disclose PFAS chemistry; most butcher papers contain PFAS-based water-repellent coating treatments.
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Material
kraft paper 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
Georgia-Pacific's unbleached butcher paper is kraft pulp (mechanical/chemical breakdown of wood fiber) with a grease-resistant coating applied to the surface. The coating is the critical unknown: unbleached kraft papers marketed for food contact typically receive fluorinated or non-fluorinated grease barriers to resist oils and moisture. Because Georgia-Pacific does not publicly disclose the coating chemistry, the presence of PFAS (PFAS "forever chemicals") cannot be ruled out and is standard industry practice for water and grease resistance. Unbleached kraft itself avoids chlorine bleaching, reducing dioxin and chlorine residues, but the coating is where chemical risk concentrates.
The brand's record and disclosure
Georgia-Pacific, owned by Koch Industries, has not published a public PFAS policy or ingredient disclosure for food-contact papers as of available records. The company has faced scrutiny for legacy chlor-alkali operations and pulp mill chemical practices but has not voluntarily committed to phasing PFAS in food packaging. No recalls or safety violations specific to this butcher paper product are on record, and the paper does comply with FDA food-contact regulations (which do not yet ban PFAS in paper). The lack of transparency rather than documented harm is the concern.
How it compares in its category
Unbleached kraft butcher paper sits in the middle-ground of food packaging risk. It avoids the chlorine and optical brighteners of bleached white butcher paper, which carry dioxin and xenoestrogen residue concerns. However, most unbleached kraft papers (including this one) still use PFAS or silicone coatings for grease resistance; competitors like If You Care and some store brands explicitly disclose or claim PFAS-free coatings, though verification is limited. Parchment and silicone-coated papers may trade PFAS for other synthetic coatings of unclear toxicity.
If you buy it
Use for short-contact wrapping (butcher counter, sandwiches, baked goods) rather than prolonged storage or direct contact with fatty foods at warm temperatures. Do not use in direct oven contact or wrap heated meat; grease-resistant coatings may leach at elevated temperatures (above 180F / 82C). Replace rolls annually or if coating shows visible wear, discoloration, or wrinkling. Store in a cool, dry place away from moisture to extend coating integrity and reduce hydrolysis-driven leaching.
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.”
PFAS in grease-resistant coating
Unbleached kraft butcher paper typically requires fluorinated or fluorine-alternative grease barriers; Georgia-Pacific does not disclose coating type. PFAS in food packaging is documented in peer-reviewed literature as a bioaccumulative concern, especially for fatty foods.
Coating leaching under heat or moisture
Grease-resistant coatings (whether PFAS or replacement polymers) may hydrolyze or migrate when exposed to hot food, prolonged contact with oils, or humidity. Unbleached kraft does not eliminate this risk; it only removes bleach-related contaminants.
Non-targeted chemicals in pulp mill process
Kraft pulping uses sodium hydroxide and sulfides; residual sodium sulfide or other mill byproducts are sometimes detected in kraft paper at trace levels. Unbleached status does not eliminate process chemical residues, only chlorine compounds.
Microplastic or fiber shedding during use
No published recalls or studies document significant microplastic or fiber shedding from Georgia-Pacific butcher paper during normal food contact. Degradation of the paper itself into food is not a documented hazard for short-term wrapping use.
Ink or printing contamination (if printed roll)
If the roll includes printed branding or measurement markings, the ink composition is not publicly disclosed. Standard food-contact paper printing inks are regulated but may contain heavy metals or solvents; Georgia-Pacific provides no specific ink safety data sheet.
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 Grease-Resistant Paper Goods
Katom
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Lower concern. Uncoated kraft paper is inherently PFAS-free material.
⚠Risky category by default
Katom
Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
bleached paper, uncoated
Lower concern. Plain paper butcher wrap typically PFAS-free.
⚠Risky category by default
Katom
Kraft Paper Sheets 24x24 / Without Center Cut / 500 Sheets per Case
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Lower concern. Bare kraft paper rarely requires PFAS coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
More grease-resistant paper goods 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.