Merrick · Pet Food Bags
Merrick Grain Free Real Salmon Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
Lower PFAS concern for dry pet food in standard bag; no evidence of grease-resistant coating.
Merrick's grain-free dog food comes in a conventional paper bag typical of dry pet food packaging. Standard dry-food bags do not typically require water or grease resistance, so PFAS-based water-repellent coating treatments are unlikely but not ruled out without direct brand disclosure.
Shop Merrick on Amazon →Material
Paper/cardboard bag with standard interior coating
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 Grain Free dry dog food arrives in a paper/cardboard bag with a standard interior plastic or wax-based moisture barrier coating. This coating is designed to protect kibble from humidity and oxygen, not to resist grease, so PFAS-heavy Teflon-family coating are unlikely. The kibble itself is the exposure vector, not the bag material; the coating sits between the food and external air rather than directly contacting the kibble over extended shelf life.
The brand's record and disclosure
Merrick (owned by Big Heart Pet Brands, now part of J.M. Smucker Company) does not publicly disclose bag material composition or PFAS testing. The brand has no widely documented recalls specifically linked to bag contamination or coating leaching. Merrick maintains general FDA compliance for pet food but does not provide third-party certifications on packaging materials or heavy metal limits in finished kibble.
How it compares in its category
Standard paper/cardboard dry pet food bags are typical across most mainstream brands (Purina, Blue Buffalo, Royal Canin, Orijen). This material class poses lower PFAS and coating-leaching risk than flexible plastic or stand-up pouches with heavy grease barriers. Grain-free formulations are a market segment choice unrelated to bag safety; the packaging hazard profile is consistent with conventional dry food storage.
If you buy it
Store the unopened bag in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve the moisture barrier integrity. Once opened, transfer kibble to an airtight glass or food-grade plastic container to maintain freshness and eliminate any residual bag exposure. Inspect the bag for tears or punctures before purchase; a compromised seal increases mold and oxidation risk rather than chemical leaching. Check the manufactured date; dry kibble typically keeps 12-18 months unopened under standard conditions.
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.”
Interior bag coating degradation and migration
Standard moisture-barrier coatings in paper pet food bags can degrade over time, particularly in warm or humid storage. No specific Merrick reports exist, but coating particles or migrated polymer residues could theoretically transfer to kibble if the barrier fails; risk is low for unopened bags stored properly.
Mold or mycotoxin contamination (grain-free formula risk)
Grain-free recipes often substitute peas, potatoes, and legumes, which can carry aflatoxin or other mycotoxin risk if moisture seals fail. This is a food quality hazard tied to formulation and storage, not the bag itself, but a compromised paper bag accelerates mold growth.
Heavy metals in kibble ingredients
No public recalls or testing data on Merrick dry kibble for lead, cadmium, or arsenic. Pet food is less tightly regulated than human food; independent third-party testing (e.g., ConsumerLab) is sparse for this brand.
BPA or bisphenol analogs from interior coating
Modern pet food bag coatings are increasingly BPA-free, but disclosure is limited. The risk for dry kibble is lower than for wet food or liquid products, as there is minimal sustained contact between coating and food solids.
Printing inks and dyes on exterior/migration to interior
Bag exterior printing is regulated but can degrade; direct contact between exterior graphics and kibble is unlikely in a properly sealed bag. No Merrick-specific incidents reported.
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.