Huhtamaki · Grease-Resistant Butcher Paper
Butcher Paper 18"
Food contact paper; waterproof coating raises PFAS concern. Seek alternative.
Butcher paper typically has grease-resistant coating, often PFAS-based. Huhtamaki discloses nothing about PFAS or coating chemistry. Uncoated paper or verified PFAS-free alternatives recommended.
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 water/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's 18-inch butcher paper is kraft (virgin or recycled wood pulp) treated with a water and grease-resistant coating to prevent seepage and extend shelf life of meat and fatty foods. The coating composition is the critical unknown: kraft paper coatings are often fluorinated (PFAS-based) or wax-based. Huhtamaki does not publicly specify which chemistry is used in this product line, creating uncertainty about food-contact safety during storage and handling of fatty/moist foods.
The brand's record and disclosure
Huhtamaki is a major multinational food packaging manufacturer with certification under ISO 9001 and compliance claims for food contact materials, but maintains silence on PFAS content in its butcher paper products. The company has not published alternatives or phase-out commitments specific to fluorinated coatings in food-contact papers. No major recalls or published safety incidents are on record for this specific product, but lack of transparency on coating source is a red flag in an industry where PFAS use in grease-resistant coatings remains common.
How it compares in its category
Most commercial butcher papers (including competitors like Freezer Paper Standard and some store brands) rely on wax or silicone coatings as cheaper alternatives to PFAS-coated kraft, which has become more common since 2020 regulatory scrutiny. Certified organic or PFAS-free butcher papers do exist (e.g., some specialty brands marketed as 'PFAS-free'), but are less widely available and pricier. Huhtamaki's lack of marketing around coating type suggests it may not be a premium PFAS-conscious option.
If you buy it
Use for cold storage and wrapping of raw or cooked meat only; do not allow direct contact with hot foods or place in ovens, as heat can accelerate leaching of coating residues if PFAS-based. Store in cool, dry conditions to minimize grease saturation and coating wear. Replace if coating visibly degrades (tears, discoloration, weeping through). Contact Huhtamaki directly to request coating specifications before purchase if heat exposure is planned.
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 (see separate PFAS grade)
Water/grease-resistant coatings on kraft paper are historically a primary use case for PFAS; Huhtamaki's silence on coating type leaves uncertainty. No public confirmation of PFAS-free formulation.
Microplastics or coating particles from degradation
Repeated folding, friction, or exposure to fatty foods can degrade paper coatings and release particles. Risk increases if coating is synthetic polymer (polyethylene, silicone) rather than wax.
Ink or printing contaminants
Huhtamaki butcher paper is typically unprinted or uses food-safe inks on outer surfaces only. No public reports of ink toxicity in this product; standard food-contact paper regulations apply.
Bleach or chlorine residues from pulp processing
Modern kraft paper manufacturing uses elemental chlorine-free (ECF) or totally chlorine-free (TCF) bleaching. Huhtamaki does not disclose which process is used, but residual levels in finished paper are typically far below food-safety thresholds.
Heavy metals in coating or ink
No recalls or test data on record for Huhtamaki butcher paper. Food-contact paper regulations in EU and US limit cadmium and lead; small-scale testing by independent labs is limited.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 42% 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.