Sealpac · Butcher & Deli Paper
Unbleached Butcher Paper Rolls
Lower concern but lacks transparency on grease-resistant treatment source.
Unbleached butcher paper typically uses food-grade grease barriers. Sealpac provides no public PFAS disclosure, though many such products now use PFAS-free wax or silicone coatings. Contact brand for treatment specifics.
The safe swap
Aplin Films
Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
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
Unbleached kraft paper with 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
Sealpac unbleached butcher paper is kraft paper (wood pulp) without chlorine bleaching, which eliminates dioxin and chlorine residue risks present in bleached grades. The grease-resistant coating is the critical unknown: most food-contact paper coatings historically used PFOA or PFOS-based chemistries, though modern alternatives (silicone, wax blends, non-fluorinated polymers) exist. Sealpac's product documentation does not specify the coating type or source, making it impossible to rule out PFAS or other synthetic additives. Unbleached papers may retain trace wood contaminants, but food contact risk is minimal at normal use temperatures.
The brand's record and disclosure
Sealpac, a private-label distributor, has no public PFAS policy or third-party certifications (NSF, FDA substance lists, or GOTS equivalents for packaging). The company has not issued transparency statements on grease-resistant coating chemistry despite increasing market awareness of PFAS in food packaging. No recalls or safety controversies specific to Sealpac butcher paper are on record. Absence of disclosure is the core concern: without ingredient transparency, assumed PFAS risk cannot be ruled out and remains the default assumption for grease-resistant coatings of unspecified origin.
How it compares in its category
Unbleached kraft paper is a safer baseline than chlorine-bleached alternatives (which carry dioxin/chlorine residue risk). However, it occupies the middle ground on grease-coating hazard: premium brands (If You Care, Regency, some foodservice suppliers) now publish PFAS-free or fluorine-free claims; commodity products like Sealpac typically remain silent. Versus plastic-coated papers (polyethylene) or wax papers, unbleached kraft avoids plastic breakdown and microplastic migration concerns. The coating ambiguity is Sealpac's disadvantage relative to certified PFAS-free competitors, though it avoids the synthetic polymer durability issues of bare kraft.
If you buy it
Use for room-temperature and warm storage (below 150°F); avoid high-heat direct contact (oven, grill, microwave heating above brief intervals). Replace rolls after 2-3 years of storage or if visible degradation (cracking, darkening, grease saturation) appears. Do not use for extended freezer storage of high-fat meats if moisture is present (coating can degrade). Request a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or coating specification from Sealpac directly; silence on this point justifies consumer inquiry and potential product switching to labeled alternatives.
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 (PFAS source, unspecified)
Sealpac does not disclose coating chemistry. Historically, grease-resistant food-contact paper coatings used PFOA or PFOS derivatives; modern non-fluorinated alternatives exist but are not confirmed here. Coating source remains the primary uncertainty and hazard driver.
Chlorine residues (bleaching byproducts)
Unbleached kraft formulation eliminates chlorine bleaching step, thus avoiding dioxin and AOX (organochlorine) residues found in ECF or TCF bleached papers. No hazard expected from this product on this metric.
Formaldehyde or urea-formaldehyde resins in coating or sizing
Standard kraft paper production does not require formaldehyde binders; unbleached kraft uses starch or natural sizing. No evidence of formaldehyde use in Sealpac products on record, but lack of disclosure prevents full confirmation.
Migration of coating components into fatty/acidic foods
Grease-resistant coatings are designed to withstand fat contact, but unspecified polymer composition and aging conditions could promote leaching under prolonged contact with high-fat meats or acidic marinades. Risk is low at typical use (hours to days) but rises with extended storage or high temperature.
Ink or printing contaminants (if printed side contacts food)
Sealpac rolls are typically plain unbleached (no printing visible in standard product images). If custom-printed rolls are used, confirm soy-based or food-safe inks; standard issue assumes no printing hazard.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 62% 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 Butcher & Deli Paper
Aplin Films
Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
Natural bleached kraft paper, no specified coating
Lower concern. Uncoated butcher paper unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Safeseal
IDL Packaging PFAS-Free Grease-Proof Paper Sheets
grease-proof paper with unspecified water/grease-resistant coating
Claim unverified; grease-proof coatings historically use PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Sappi Fine Papers
IDL Packaging PFAS-Free Grease-Proof Paper Sheets
paper with grease-resistant coating
Brand claims PFAS-free. No independent verification found. Proceed with caution.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
More 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.