Instinct Raw Boost · Pet Food Bags
Instinct Grain Free Raw Boost Small Breed Recipe Dry Dog Food
Lower concern for PFAS; standard dry pet food packaging with no known treatment flags.
This product uses conventional kraft paperboard packaging typical of dry pet foods. No water-resistant or grease-resistant coatings are standard in this category unless explicitly claimed. Instinct makes no PFAS-related disclosures.
Shop Instinct Raw Boost on Amazon →Material
Kraft paper/cardboard dry food bag (standard)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This product ships in a multi-layer kraft paper/cardboard dry pet food bag, the industry standard for kibble packaging. These bags typically use a kraft paper exterior with an inner plastic film layer (often polyethylene or polypropylene) for moisture and oxygen barrier protection. The bag itself does not contact food during storage in typical home use; kibble sits inside the inner film. Kraft paper and standard polyolefin films have a well-established safety profile for dry goods with no inherent leaching risk at room temperature.
The brand's record and disclosure
Instinct by Nature's Variety (owned by Nestlé) does not publicly disclose PFAS testing or treatment status for its packaging, which is typical across most pet food manufacturers. The brand has no major documented recalls related to packaging material safety or chemical contamination in recent years. Instinct markets raw-boosted kibble (freeze-dried raw topcoat) but this additive does not change the bag material hazard profile. The company follows standard pet food industry practices and is not flagged for transparency gaps on material composition.
How it compares in its category
All mainstream dry pet foods ship in kraft/plastic laminate bags; this product uses the same construction as Orijen, Acana, Purina Pro Plan, and Royal Canin. Premium grain-free brands do not use materially different or safer packaging than standard brands. The dry kibble format eliminates moisture and heat exposure risks that might activate leaching from other materials. Pet food bags are not required to meet food-contact material testing stricter than those for human food, so comparison is equivalent.
If you buy it
Store the unopened bag in a cool, dry place (below 70 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal) to preserve kibble freshness and prevent any theoretical migration from inner film. Once opened, transfer kibble to an airtight container if keeping for more than 2 weeks, as the bag's seal degrades after opening and does not affect material safety but worsens food quality. Replace the bag every 3 to 4 months even if sealed; pet food fat oxidizes over time regardless of packaging. Do not freeze kibble in the original bag if you plan to do so, as temperature swings can stress the seal, though this poses no chemical hazard.
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 bag coating/treatment
No public testing or recalls document PFAS-coated kraft pet food bags from this brand. Standard kraft bags for dry goods are not routinely treated with aqueous film-forming compounds, unlike some food service packaging. Absence of disclosure is not confirmation of safety but reflects no industry flag.
Inner plastic film leaching (polyethylene/polypropylene)
PE and PP films used in pet food bag liners do not leach regulated substances at room temperature into dry kibble. These polymers are approved for food contact by the FDA and have no known migration hazard in this application. No recalls or complaints specific to this product exist in public databases.
Ink or adhesive migration from kraft exterior
Kraft bag printing inks and lamination adhesives used in pet food packaging are food-contact approved and do not migrate through the bag to kibble under normal conditions. The inner film barrier prevents any theoretical pathway. This is not a documented hazard for any major brand in this category.
Mold or microbial growth from moisture ingress
If the bag is stored in high humidity or a damaged bag is used, the kraft exterior can absorb moisture and compromise the inner seal, risking kibble spoilage and mold. This is a food quality and pet health concern rather than a material chemistry hazard. Proper storage prevents this.
Allergen or contaminant carryover in kibble (not packaging)
Instinct Raw Boost is grain-free and labeled for small breeds; no recalls for allergen misbranding or pathogen contamination appear in FDA pet food databases as of public record. Packaging does not introduce contamination risk specific to this product or brand.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% 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.
More pet food bags 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.