Unbleached Parchment Paper by Mercantile · Baking Parchment & Silicone Mats
Cut Natural & Unbleached Baking Parchment Paper, Heavy Duty, Nonstick, Reusable, Resealable Pack, Fits 18 inch X 13 inch Pan, 200 Count, Size: 12 x 16
Lower PFAS concern, standard unbleached parchment with silicone nonstick is a typical low-risk choice.
Unbleached parchment paper is traditionally made from cellulose and typically coated with silicone rather than fluorinated polymers like Teflon-type coating. The product describes itself as 'natural & unbleached' without mentioning waterproofing or grease-resistance treatments that would signal PFAS additives.
Shop Unbleached Parchment Paper by Mercantile on Amazon →Material
Unbleached paper, silicone-based nonstick coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
cookware is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
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
This product is unbleached cellulose paper (wood pulp) coated with a silicone-based nonstick layer. Unbleached means it skips chlorine-based whitening chemicals, reducing exposure to chlorine residues and dioxins that can form during bleaching. The silicone topcoat provides heat resistance and nonstick properties without Teflon-type coating (Teflon), which eliminates fume-release risk at typical baking temperatures. Silicone is chemically stable, inert, and does not leach into food under standard baking conditions (under 450°F).
The brand's record and disclosure
Mercantile has not published detailed ingredient disclosures or third-party certifications (such as FDA compliance statements or independent testing) for this product line based on publicly available information. The brand's silence on PFAS specifically is typical for conventional parchment makers, but does not indicate a problem given the silicone-based formulation. No safety recalls, complaints, or controversies linked to this brand's parchment products are documented in consumer safety databases.
How it compares in its category
Unbleached parchment with silicone nonstick is a standard, lower-risk choice compared to bleached parchment (which may retain chemical residues) or reusable silicone mats (which require careful inspection for degradation). It avoids both Teflon-type coating-coated cookware risks and the variable safety profile of some cheaper reusable mat brands. The heavy-duty, reusable pack positioning suggests thicker paper stock, which may offer longer usable life and less risk of tearing and fiber shedding into food.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent silicone coating brittleness. Use at baking temperatures up to 420-450°F; above that, silicone coatings can soften or become sticky. Inspect sheets before use for tears, holes, or peeling; discard if coating flakes or separates. Reuse is practical for 5-10 uses per sheet depending on moisture and handling; replace when coating visibly degrades or paper becomes darkened from repeated baking.
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.”
Silicone coating degradation at high heat
While silicone is stable under normal baking (up to 450°F), prolonged exposure above 450°F or direct flame contact may cause the coating to soften, become tacky, or flake. Mercantile has not published temperature limits; user judgment and visual inspection are essential.
Bleaching chemical residues (avoided by unbleached format)
Unbleached parchment eliminates risk of chlorine or hypochlorite residues that can persist in bleached paper. This product explicitly avoids that pathway, so no concern is documented.
Paper fiber shedding or pulp degradation
Reused parchment may shed cellulose fibers, especially at creases or tears. The heavy-duty claim suggests thicker stock, which reduces this risk, but inspecting for tears and replacing worn sheets minimizes any fiber ingestion.
Ink or printing chemicals on packaging
No evidence of food-contact inks or adhesives on the paper itself; standard kraft packaging inks pose negligible migration risk. Ensure the product itself is not printed with soy or mineral-based inks that might transfer to food during use.
Heavy metals or contaminants in paper stock
Virgin or recycled cellulose parchment can theoretically harbor trace metals from pulping or recycling; Mercantile has not published mill source or heavy metal testing. Unbleached, non-recycled stock reduces recycled-contaminant risk, but no assay is public.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% 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 Baking Parchment & Silicone Mats
Silpat
Silpain Silicone Bread Baking Mat
silicone (fiberglass-reinforced)
Lower concern, silicone mat avoids Teflon-type coating and Teflon-family coating inherent to traditional nonstick.
⚠Risky category by default
Regency Wraps
Regency Reusable Parchment Paper
Silicone-coated parchment paper
Lower-concern parchment option; PFAS-free claim credible for silicone-coated products, but verify current batch labeling.
⚠Risky category by default
If You Care
Fat Daddio's ProSeries Silicone Baking Mat
silicone (food-grade)
Lower-concern choice; food-grade silicone is inherently PFAS-risk-averse, though third-party verification would strengthen the claim.
⚠Risky category by default
More baking parchment & silicone mats 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.