Merrick · Pet Food Bags
Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food
Lower-concern category for typical dry dog food packaging, but no brand transparency on PFAS.
Merrick's dry dog food comes in standard printed paper/cardboard bags. Dry pet food packaging typically carries lower PFAS risk than grease-resistant or water-resistant treated materials, but Merrick makes no public statement about PFAS in packaging or sourcing.
Shop Merrick on Amazon →Material
Paper/cardboard bag with printing inks
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
Merrick Classic Healthy Grains comes in a paper/cardboard bag with standard printing inks used in pet food packaging. Paper and cardboard are generally inert once dry and do not leach chemicals into kibble under normal storage. The primary concern with paper bags is ink migration during printing, though FDA-approved food-contact inks are the industry standard and pose minimal risk to pets. The bag's interior is typically lined or coated to prevent moisture ingress and product degradation rather than to block chemical transfer.
The brand's record and disclosure
Merrick (owned by Big Heart Pet Brands, now part of J.M. Smucker Company) has no widely documented recalls or safety violations specifically tied to bag material or packaging chemistry. The brand does not publicly disclose detailed information about ink suppliers, bag coating materials, or PFAS use in packaging. No formal third-party certifications (such as BPA-free labeling on the bag itself) are advertised for this product line, though this is typical for dry pet food in the U.S. market.
How it compares in its category
Dry dog food bags across brands (Purina, Royal Canin, Taste of the Wild, etc.) use similar paper/cardboard construction with printed labels. Merrick does not stand out as materially safer or riskier than peers in packaging choice. Some premium brands offer resealable foil-lined bags, which provide slightly better moisture and light protection but carry similar or greater PFAS exposure risk due to increased fluorinated coatings. Paper-only bags like Merrick's are among the least chemically complex packaging in this category.
If you buy it
Store the bag in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve kibble freshness and prevent condensation that could promote mold or bacterial growth inside the bag. Transfer kibble to a sealed glass or food-grade plastic container if you keep the bag open for more than 2-3 weeks, as paper bags offer limited freshness retention. Inspect the bag for tears, ink damage, or odors before use. No special handling of the bag material itself is necessary; standard pet food storage practices apply.
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.”
Printing inks (heavy metals, solvents)
FDA-approved food-contact inks are standard in pet food packaging and do not migrate into dry kibble. No recalls or testing failures specific to Merrick bags are on record. Risk is theoretical and well-controlled in compliant manufacturing.
Bag coating degradation and ingestion of particles
If the bag is stored in very humid conditions or punctured, internal coatings may flake or degrade over extended periods. While unlikely to be ingested in meaningful quantities, physically damaged bags should be replaced. No documented cases of harm from Merrick bag degradation are known.
Mold or bacterial growth (moisture-related)
Paper bags offer less moisture barrier than foil-lined alternatives. If stored in humid environments or left open, kibble can absorb moisture and support mold. This is a storage condition issue, not a material hazard, but relevant to bag choice.
Allergen cross-contact via bag handling
Paper bag printing and materials themselves do not commonly trigger allergies in dogs. If the pet owner has latex or ink allergies when handling the bag, that is a human health issue, not a product defect.
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.