Huhtamaki · Grease-Resistant Butcher Paper
12" - Butcher Paper Rolls Roll
Grease-resistant butcher paper likely contains PFAS; manufacturer silent on composition.
Huhtamaki's butcher paper typically uses water and grease-resistant coatings that commonly contain PFAS. No public disclosure or testing data available; consider uncoated kraft or verified alternatives.
The safe swap
Hardin Simmons
Gordon Paper Butcher Paper
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 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
Huhtamaki butcher paper is kraft paper (cellulose fibers) with a synthetic grease-resistant coating applied to the food-contact surface. The coating enables the paper to resist meat juices and oils without degrading. Grease-resistant coatings in food-contact paper are typically fluorochemical compounds (PFAS-class), which repel both water and oil molecules. Kraft paper itself is not inherently hazardous, but the coating composition determines leaching risk under heat and moisture.
The brand's record and disclosure
Huhtamaki is a major multinational food-packaging supplier with no public commitment to PFAS-free formulations or ingredient transparency for butcher paper products. The company has not released third-party certifications for PFAS content or safer alternative adoption. This silence is significant: competitors like Footprint and some regional producers have begun marketing PFAS-free butcher paper, implying alternatives exist but Huhtamaki has not adopted them at scale. No major recalls for this product category are on record.
How it compares in its category
Standard butcher paper from most large manufacturers (Huhtamaki, Deli-Wrap, Ahlstrom) uses fluorochemical coatings. Silicone-coated and wax-coated alternatives exist but are less common and not always labeled clearly at retail. Uncoated kraft paper offers zero PFAS risk but fails the grease barrier function. Huhtamaki's product is typical mid-market butcher paper: functional but not transparency-leading. Some specialty brands now market PFAS-free greaseproof coatings (e.g., clay-based or bio-based), but availability varies by region.
If you buy it
Use for ambient-temperature storage and wrapping only. Do not place hot meat directly against the paper; let food cool first or use as an outer wrap with parchment underneath for hot items. Do not microwave or place in direct contact with heat sources above 180°F, as this accelerates potential PFAS or other coating leaching. Replace rolls if surface shows visible wear, cracking, or discoloration. Store in a cool, dry place to prevent coating breakdown and mold growth.
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.”
Fluorochemical coating leaching (PFAS-precursor migration)
Grease-resistant butcher paper almost certainly uses PFAS or PFAS precursors; Huhtamaki has not disclosed composition. Migration risk increases with heat, humidity, and acidic foods (tomato-based products, citrus). This is the primary non-PFAS concern because coating breakdown and manufacturing byproducts (e.g., perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOA) can leach into food.
Mineral oil or other coating residues from manufacturing
Kraft paper production sometimes leaves mineral oil or other mold-release agents on the surface. While food-contact papers are regulated, residual levels vary by manufacturer. No specific Huhtamaki testing on record, but this is a category-wide concern for unbleached kraft products.
Microplastic or fiber shedding when wet
Kraft paper fibers can shed into fatty or oily foods, especially if the coating degrades or if the paper is creased and flexed. This is unlikely to pose acute toxicity but represents a quality/contamination issue rather than direct hazard.
Mold or bacterial growth if stored damp
Kraft paper is cellulose-based and susceptible to mold and bacterial colonization in humid conditions. The coating reduces but does not eliminate this risk. Contamination is a food safety concern rather than a chemical hazard, but relevant to product integrity.
Bleach residue or other processing chemicals
Huhtamaki butcher paper is typically unbleached or lightly bleached kraft. No recalls or reported contamination from chlorine residues or other processing byproducts. Industry standard manufacturing should keep these below regulatory thresholds, but brand transparency is absent.
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 Butcher Paper
Hardin Simmons
Gordon Paper Butcher Paper
kraft paper, bleached sulfate pulp
Lower concern; uncoated butcher paper has minimal PFAS risk.
⚠Risky category by default
Hardin Simmons
Durable Packaging White Butcher Paper Roll
bleached kraft paper, likely uncoated
Lower concern. Standard butcher paper unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Deli King
Butcher Paper King Kraft Paper 36" x 500 ft
Kraft paper, unbleached cellulose
Lower concern. Kraft paper is inherently PFAS-free by composition.
⚠Risky category by default
More grease-resistant butcher paper 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.