Merrick · Pet Food Bags
Merrick Grain Free Real Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
Lower concern for dog food itself, but bag coating unknown, contact Merrick for packaging details.
Merrick's grain-free sweet potato dog food product itself poses minimal PFAS risk. However, the primary concern is the bag packaging: standard paper-based pet food bags may use grease-resistant coatings that could contain PFAS, and Merrick makes no public disclosure about their packaging materials or treatments.
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Paper/cardboard bag packaging
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 Real Sweet Potato is dry kibble packaged in a paper/cardboard bag with an interior moisture barrier coating. The kibble itself contains meat proteins, sweet potato, and added vitamins; the risk profile depends almost entirely on the bag's lining material rather than the food formulation. Standard kraft paper bags in pet food typically use polyethylene or wax-based interior coatings to prevent moisture and pest entry, not food-contact liners.
The brand's record and disclosure
Merrick is owned by Big Heart Pet Brands (acquired by J.M. Smucker Co. in 2015) and has no widely documented history of packaging material transparency reports or PFAS disclosure initiatives. The brand has faced no major recalls specifically linked to bag coating contaminants. No third-party certifications (e.g., BPA-free bag claims) are prominent in marketing materials, suggesting passive rather than proactive disclosure stance on packaging chemistry.
How it compares in its category
Standard pet food dry kibble bags are typically lower-risk than human food packaging because they are not intended for microwave heating or prolonged liquid contact. Merrick's grain-free formulation itself is within industry norms; the 'grain-free' marketing is a product positioning choice, not a safety attribute. Compared to premium brands that explicitly test packaging for contaminants (rare in pet food), Merrick provides no public differentiation in bag safety standards.
If you buy it
Store the bag in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources; cardboard degradation accelerates above 70°F and can compromise the interior moisture seal. Transfer kibble to an airtight rigid container (glass or food-grade plastic) after opening to prevent staleness and reduce reliance on the bag's barrier. Replace the bag if you notice visible moisture, mold spots, or punctures. If you want confirmation that the bag interior coating is PFAS-free, contact Merrick's consumer care directly; they are obligated to disclose if such information exists.
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 bag coating (packaging only, not food)
Cardboard bag interior liners commonly use Teflon-family coating or fluorinated wax coatings for moisture resistance; Merrick has not published whether their supplier uses PFOA/PFOS-containing formulations. The food itself is unlikely to be contaminated, but the bag's lining chemistry is unconfirmed.
Moisture and mold ingress if bag is compromised
Degraded or punctured cardboard bags can allow humidity and airborne mold spores into kibble; dogs consuming moldy dry food may experience gastrointestinal upset. This is a storage and bag integrity issue, not a manufacturing defect unique to Merrick.
Ink migration from exterior printing
Pet food bags are regulated for food-contact printing inks in the US (FDA CFR 178.3800), and no recalls of Merrick products for ink contamination are on record. Risk is minimal if the bag interior is not directly printed.
BPA or BPS in bag closure/zipper hardware
Some resealable pet food bags use plastic clips or adhesive tape that may contain BPA; no specific data on Merrick's closure materials is publicly available. Direct contact with kibble is limited, but transfer to dog food bowls is not a concern.
Heavy metals in kibble (especially grain-free formulations)
Grain-free diets often rely on legume-based proteins and root vegetables, which may accumulate cadmium or lead from soil in some regions. Merrick has not published heavy-metal testing data; the FDA does not mandate routine screening of pet food for these contaminants, though recalls do occur if contamination is discovered.
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.