Glad · Grease-Resistant Paper Products
Glad Round Disposable Paper Plates
Disposable paper plates likely contain grease-resistant coating; PFAS status unknown.
Glad paper plates are coated for water and grease resistance, a common PFAS application. Glad does not disclose coating composition or PFAS status publicly.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
paper with moisture/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
Glad Round Disposable Paper Plates are paper pulp substrate with a moisture and grease-resistant coating. This coating is almost certainly fluorochemical-based (PFAS-containing) or silicone-based, but Glad does not publicly specify which. The coating prevents oil and water from soaking through, but also means the product cannot be easily recycled and may leach coating components into hot or fatty foods.
The brand's record and disclosure
Glad (owned by Clorox) has not published any PFAS transparency statement or phase-out commitment for its food-contact products as of public record. The company has faced no major recalls or regulatory actions specific to these plates. Glad does not list ingredient composition or coating type on packaging or website for consumer review, limiting independent assessment.
How it compares in its category
Disposable paper plates with moisture barriers are ubiquitous in North America; most major brands (Hefty, Chinet, store labels) use similar coatings of unspecified chemistry. Some competitors have begun offering PFAS-free alternatives or compostable variants, but these remain less common and costlier. Uncoated paper plates eliminate coating risk but absorb grease and are unsuitable for wet foods.
If you buy it
Use for room-temperature or warm (not hot) foods and beverages to reduce the risk of coating leaching. Avoid prolonged contact with fatty, acidic, or heated items (microwave use not recommended). Do not compost; dispose as regular waste. If PFAS or coating safety becomes a concern, switch to uncoated paper, ceramic, or glass dishes for frequent use.
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.”
Coating leachates (non-PFAS)
The grease-resistant coating chemistry is proprietary and undisclosed. If silicone-based, migration into hot or fatty foods is theoretically possible but not well-studied for this specific product. No published recalls for leaching from Glad plates.
Microplastics or synthetic polymer particles
No evidence of microplastic shedding from intact Glad paper plates under normal use. Degradation or damage during storage or use could release coating fragments, but this is not documented.
Formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasers in adhesives
Paper pulp and coatings may contain trace formaldehyde from manufacturing or additives, but Glad has not disclosed adhesive or binder chemistry. Formaldehyde risk from food-contact paper products is generally low compared to textiles.
Bleach residues or processing chemicals
Paper pulp is typically bleached during manufacture. Residual chlorine or other bleach byproducts are not typically a concern at levels in finished plates, but Glad does not publish processing standards or testing.
Heavy metals in pigments or colorants
If the plates have printed decoration or pigmented coating, cadmium, lead, or other heavy metals are theoretically possible but not reported for Glad products. The round plates shown are plain white, minimizing this risk.
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 Products
Target
If You Care Parchment Baking Sheets
unbleached parchment paper, silicone coating
Lower concern. PFAS-free claim with MADE SAFE certification.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Glad
IDL Packaging PFAS-Free Grease-Proof Paper Sheets
paper with grease-proof coating
Brand claims PFAS-free; grease-proof coating type unspecified, moderate concern remains.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Natural Value
IDL Packaging PFAS-Free Grease-Proof Paper Sheets
cellulose paper with grease-resistant coating
Brand claims PFAS-free, but unverified.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
More grease-resistant paper products 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.