Lakeland · Disposable Food Containers
Avant Grub 100% Recyclable 8oz Brown Chinese Take Out Boxes 50pk. Leakproof Greaseproof To
Skip until coating composition disclosed. Grease-resistant coatings often contain PFAS.
Brown cardboard takeout boxes with unspecified grease-resistant treatment. No brand disclosure on coating chemistry or PFAS status; typical grease-barrier coatings carry PFAS risk.
The safe swap
Lakeland
Sustainables 3 Compartment Hinged Lid To Go Food Container
70/100 safety
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
paperboard with grease-resistant coating, unspecified
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.
Vague safety claims only
Uses vague language ("eco-friendly", "clean") without a specific PFAS statement.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
These boxes are paperboard (recycled or virgin fiber) with an applied grease-resistant coating. The coating is the critical unknown: most commercial grease-proof food packaging uses fluorinated compounds (PFAS family) to repel oils and water, because they are exceptionally effective and durable at scale. Lakeland has not disclosed what this coating is, which is the core safety gap here. Bare paperboard itself poses no chemical hazard to food contact.
The brand's record and disclosure
Lakeland is a UK homewares and food-service supplier with no public commitment to PFAS-free packaging or transparency about coating chemistry. A search of their environmental or safety policies yields no mention of fluorinated compounds in take-out boxes. The company has not communicated ingredient or coating sourcing for this product line. This silence is not reassuring given how common PFAS coatings are in the industry and the health stakes of PFAS migration into food.
How it compares in its category
Most cheap disposable take-out box manufacturers (including major Chinese suppliers) default to PFAS-coated paperboard for grease resistance because alternatives (silicone, wax, or polylactic acid barriers) cost more. Brands like World Centric and some compostable box makers explicitly state PFAS-free coatings, proving the market exists. Lakeland's silence puts this product in the presumed-PFAS category until evidence suggests otherwise.
If you buy it
Do not use for hot, oily, or acidic foods if you are concerned about coating migration; grease and heat are known to accelerate PFAS leaching. Store dry foods only if possible. These boxes are single-use; do not reuse or microwave. The recyclability claim depends on whether recycling facilities accept coated paperboard (many do not separate or cannot process PFAS residue). Contact Lakeland directly asking for coating composition; their response will inform a safer future choice.
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
Grease-proof food-contact coatings on paperboard are predominantly PFAS-based (PFOA, PFOS, or GenX alternatives). Lakeland has disclosed neither the coating type nor manufacturer. Migration risk is real under heat and with fatty foods.
Coating degradation and microparticles
Repeated use, creasing, or exposure to boiling water can cause flaking or peeling of the coating. No data on this product's durability, but low-cost take-out boxes often shed coating particles into food.
Ink or dye transfer from printing
Brown boxes may use food-grade inks if Lakeland observes UK food-contact regulations, but interior print composition is not disclosed. Risk is low for unprinted interior surfaces.
Recycling contamination from coating
PFAS-coated paperboard contaminates paper recycling streams and is difficult or impossible to remove. The 'recyclable' claim may be misleading if most local programs do not accept coated boxes or if the coating ends up in landfill or pulp sludge.
Formaldehyde in adhesives or sizing
Paperboard manufacturing may involve formaldehyde-based adhesives or sizing agents. This is a standard industry practice, but no specific concerns have been flagged for Lakeland boxes.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 35% 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 Disposable Food Containers
Lakeland
Sustainables 3 Compartment Hinged Lid To Go Food Container
Molded fiber/pulp (plant-based)
Lower concern. Molded fiber food containers unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Lakeland
Hefty Food Service Containers Rectangle 9 3/4" x 5" x 3 1/4" 125 ct
Polypropylene (disposable food containers)
Lower concern, but brand discloses nothing about PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Rubbermaid
TakeAlongs Food Storage Containers 10 Piece Set
polypropylene plastic containers with lids
Lower concern; basic plastic food storage with no known PFAS triggers.
⚠Risky category by default
More disposable food containers 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.