Koppers · Grease-Resistant Butcher Paper
White Butcher Paper Roll
Butcher paper likely contains PFAS; brand silent on treatment
White butcher paper typically uses grease-resistant coatings, often PFAS-based. Koppers provides no transparency on coating chemistry or PFAS status.
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
Koppers white butcher paper is kraft paper (cellulose fibers from wood pulp) treated with a water- and grease-resistant coating to prevent oil penetration and extend shelf life of meat products. The coating is the critical component: most commercial butcher papers use fluorinated compounds (PFAS) or older wax-based treatments. The coating sits between food and paper, but direct contact with hot or fatty foods can accelerate migration of coating residues into the product. Kraft paper itself is food-safe; the coating is the variable.
The brand's record and disclosure
Koppers is a major industrial materials supplier (Arkansas-based) with no public statements on PFAS content, alternatives, or testing for this product line. The company has not published a PFAS phase-out roadmap or third-party certifications (e.g., Green Seal, FDA formal approval of specific coating chemistry). Industry sources indicate many Koppers foodservice products likely contain legacy PFAS-based coatings, consistent with market-wide practice before recent regulatory scrutiny. Lack of transparency on this specific SKU means PFAS presence cannot be ruled out and should be assumed likely.
How it compares in its category
Most commercial butcher paper (Sysco, Kirkland, store brands) has identical composition and equivalent PFAS exposure risk. Uncoated kraft paper avoids coating hazards but fails at its primary function (grease barrier) and is rarely stocked. Certified compostable or PFAS-free butcher paper exists (e.g., some specialty suppliers using wax or newer polymer coatings) but costs 2-3x more and is not widely available. Koppers is mid-market pricing and typical for foodservice; no distinctive safety advantage or disadvantage versus competitors.
If you buy it
Use for cold storage of butcher cuts, prepared meats, and baked goods; coating is designed for ambient and refrigerated conditions. Do not use as direct wrapping for hot foods (above 120F/49C) as heat accelerates migration. Replace rolls every 6-12 months; older stock may show discoloration, brittleness, or coating flaking, all signs of degradation. Store in cool, dry conditions to slow coating breakdown. For frequent heavy use (restaurant kitchens), source certified PFAS-free alternatives or uncoated paper for hot applications.
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 (fluorinated compounds)
Butcher paper coatings almost universally contain PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid or similar fluorochemicals) for water and grease resistance. Koppers has not disclosed coating source or PFAS content; industry standard practice suggests presence. Migration risk increases with heat and fatty foods, though coating is not designed for direct ingestion.
Microplastics or polymer degradation from coating
Over time, grease-resistant coatings can flake, embritle, or shed microscopic particles into stored foods, especially under temperature cycling or extended storage. This is primarily a quality-of-product issue rather than inherent toxicity, but degraded paper should be discarded.
Residual chlorine or bleaching agents in kraft paper substrate
Kraft paper manufacturing typically uses oxygen or hydrogen peroxide bleaching, not chlorine; however, trace chlorine-based residues from industrial processing are theoretically possible. No specific recalls or reports for Koppers butcher paper on this hazard; standard industry practice is considered safe by FDA.
Ink or printing residue (if product is printed)
Koppers white butcher rolls are typically unprinted or use FDA-approved food-contact inks on the exterior only. If printing is present, migration into food is unlikely given non-contact side placement. No known issues specific to this product.
Unidentified additives in coating formulation
Koppers has not published full ingredient disclosure for the grease-resistant coating. Commercial formulations may include plasticizers, surfactants, or slip agents not disclosed on packaging. Without transparency, cumulative exposure risk cannot be fully quantified.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 40% 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.