Reynolds · Grease-Resistant Butcher & Deli Paper
(3 pack) Reynolds Kitchens Butcher Paper for Smoking Meat with Slide Cutter, Pink, 75 square feet
Skip until Reynolds discloses coating chemistry
Butcher paper marketed for smoking meat with grease resistance, but Reynolds does not disclose the coating composition. Grease-resistant food packaging often contains PFAS, though alternatives exist.
The safe swap
Sam's Club
Member's Mark Heavy Duty Food Service Foil
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
Kraft paper with unspecified grease-resistant coating
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
Reynolds Kitchens Butcher Paper is kraft paper (wood pulp) with an applied grease-resistant coating on one side. The coating chemistry is not publicly disclosed by Reynolds; it is neither labeled Teflon-type coating nor explicitly stated as PFOA-free, which is the primary safety concern for this product class. The pink color is food-safe dye (no heavy metals reported in kraft food-service papers). At typical smoking temperatures (225-275°F), uncoated kraft paper is stable, but the coating's thermal tolerance and composition remain unknown.
The brand's record and disclosure
Reynolds Kitchens (owned by Aleris/Novelis) does not publicly disclose the specific chemistry of grease-resistant coatings on its butcher paper products. The company has made no formal statements regarding PFAS avoidance in this line. Reynolds has faced past scrutiny over PFAS in aluminum foil coatings but has not released comparable transparency for kraft paper products. For a major consumer brand, this silence on a food-contact coating is notable.
How it compares in its category
Standard butcher paper and smoking paper alternatives vary widely: uncoated kraft (safest but less grease-resistant), silicone-coated paper (heat-safe, coating disclosed), and chlorine-bleached vs. unbleached options. Reynolds positions this as a mid-market product with a built-in cutter. Competitors like Winco and Quill Hill often provide clearer coating disclosures or use silicone alternatives. For smoking specifically, this product is functional but lacks transparency compared to premium or eco-focused brands.
If you buy it
Use for short-term, high-heat smoking (wrapping meat, not prolonged storage). Keep contact time under 4 hours at typical smoking temps; do not use for acidic foods or long-term food storage, as the coating and paper can degrade and migrate into food. Replace the roll if you see visible wear, discoloration, or if the coating begins peeling. Store in a cool, dry place; exposure to moisture or heat before use can compromise the coating.
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.”
Grease-resistant coating composition (unknown)
Reynolds does not disclose whether the water-resistant coating contains PFAS, fluorinated compounds, or other synthetic chemicals. This is the primary hazard for this product; at smoking temperatures above 350°F, some food-contact coatings can degrade or migrate into fat.
Thermal stability of coating
Kraft paper itself is stable to ~400°F, but the grease coating's burn-off temperature is unknown. Users report the paper may brown or emit odors at very high heat; no formal testing data is public.
Chlorine bleaching byproducts (if applicable)
Reynolds does not specify if this paper is chlorine-bleached or ECF (elementally chlorine-free). Dioxins from bleaching are not reported in food-service kraft paper, but verification would require product spec sheet.
Ink or dye migration from pink color
The pink dye used for visibility is food-approved and not reported to leach under normal smoking temperatures; regulatory compliance is assumed but not independently verified for this specific batch.
Microparticle shedding from coating wear
Repeated handling, high heat, or contact with moisture can cause the coating to shed small particles. Risk is low for short-term smoking but increases with reuse or extended storage contact with fatty meats.
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 Grease-Resistant Butcher & Deli Paper
Sam's Club
Member's Mark Heavy Duty Food Service Foil
Aluminum foil
Lower concern. Plain aluminum foil typically PFAS-free.
⚠Risky category by default
Sam's Club
Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
unbleached natural kraft paper
Lower concern. Uncoated paper unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Butcher Paper (generic/store brands)
Bryco Goods Pink Kraft Butcher Paper Roll 18 Inch x 175 Feet
kraft paper, uncoated or minimal coating
Lower concern; plain kraft paper has minimal PFAS risk.
⚠Risky category by default
More grease-resistant 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.