Kotkamills · Butcher & Deli Paper
Butcher Wrapping Paper Portable Grills Parchment Sheets Meat
Lower concern, but request water-resistance details from Kotkamills.
Butcher paper typically uses wax or silicone coatings for grease resistance; Kotkamills does not disclose coating type or PFAS status. Direct contact with brand recommended for peace of mind.
The safe swap
Aplin Films
Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
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
Bleached kraft paper with silicone-lined or wax treatment
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
Kotkamills butcher/parchment sheets are bleached kraft paper with either silicone or wax surface treatment to prevent food sticking and moisture penetration. Bleached kraft itself is food-contact approved in most jurisdictions and does not leach into food under normal cooking conditions. The silicone or wax layer is what matters for safety: food-grade silicone is inert and stable to moderate heat (typically 400-500F depending on formulation), while wax treatments (often paraffin or soy-based) similarly resist foodborne leaching at grilling temperatures. The bleaching process historically raised dioxin concerns, but modern kraft bleaching does not produce detectable dioxin residues in finished paper.
The brand's record and disclosure
Kotkamills is a Finnish paper manufacturer with no widely documented safety recalls or regulatory actions on food-contact papers. The company does not publicly disclose PFAS use or absence in their product line, which is common among traditional paper suppliers but creates uncertainty around fluorochemical water-resistance coatings. No third-party certifications (FSC, EU organic) are confirmed for this specific product line in available sources. Absence of disclosure is not evidence of hazard, but it prevents independent verification of PFAS-free status.
How it compares in its category
Butcher/parchment paper alternatives include unbleached kraft (no added coatings, but less grease-resistant), silicone-treated sheets (identical safety profile to this product), and Teflon-type coating-coated (Teflon-style) grilling papers, which carry fume risk if overheated. Kotkamills' bleached kraft plus coating sits in the mainstream middle: more grease-resistant than uncoated but without the thermal degradation risk of Teflon-family coating coatings. Wax-lined versions have historically been considered slightly safer than silicone for repeated high-heat use, though both are food-safe at typical grill temperatures.
If you buy it
Use at grill temperatures under 450F; most silicone coatings break down chemically above that threshold, risking coating fragments in food. Replace sheets after 2-3 uses or if coating visibly peels, cracks, or yellows excessively. Store in a cool, dry place away from strong light to slow wax degradation. Do not use in direct flame contact or on the grill grate itself; these papers are designed for indirect heat and food wrapping, not as a continuous grill liner.
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.”
Silicone coating thermal breakdown
If product uses silicone treatment and is exposed to sustained heat above 450-500F, the coating can degrade into fragments. Risk is low during typical grilling (meat cooks at 350-400F), but high heat sears or prolonged direct exposure may trigger degradation.
Wax treatment degradation and ingestion
Paraffin or wax-based coatings can soften and separate if overheated or soaked in hot liquids; small amounts may migrate to food. This is not acutely toxic but undesirable; modern food-grade waxes are formulated to resist this, but product specifications from Kotkamills are not publicly detailed.
Bleaching residues and dioxins
Modern elemental chlorine-free (ECF) and totally chlorine-free (TCF) kraft bleaching does not produce detectable dioxin in finished paper. No dioxin contamination has been reported in food-contact kraft papers since the 1990s.
Ink or printing contaminants
This product description does not indicate printed branding or ink on the food-contact surface. If printing is present, food-contact inks must be regulated; absence of detail suggests either no printing or compliance with food contact standards.
Bacterial growth or mold on storage
Kraft paper is hygroscopic and can absorb moisture if stored in humid conditions, creating conditions for mold. Risk is low if kept in dry storage but increases significantly in damp garages or near grills exposed to weather.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 68% 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 Butcher & Deli Paper
Aplin Films
Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
Natural bleached kraft paper, no specified coating
Lower concern. Uncoated butcher paper unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Safeseal
IDL Packaging PFAS-Free Grease-Proof Paper Sheets
grease-proof paper with unspecified water/grease-resistant coating
Claim unverified; grease-proof coatings historically use PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Sappi Fine Papers
IDL Packaging PFAS-Free Grease-Proof Paper Sheets
paper with grease-resistant coating
Brand claims PFAS-free. No independent verification found. Proceed with caution.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
More butcher & deli 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.