Wellness CORE · Pet Food Bags
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Skip until Wellness discloses packaging PFAS status; pet food bags often use fluorinated barriers.
Wellness CORE is a grain-free dry cat food sold in paper bags typical of the pet food industry. Pet food packaging frequently uses PFAS-based coatings for grease resistance and moisture barriers, but Wellness makes no public disclosure about PFAS in their bags or inks.
Shop Wellness CORE on Amazon →Material
paper/kraft bag with unknown interior coating or ink
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
Wellness CORE is packaged in kraft paper bags with an unknown interior coating or laminate layer designed to preserve freshness and block moisture/oxygen. Pet food bags typically use plastic films or fluorinated barrier coatings on the inside to create a moisture seal without refrigeration. The specific chemistry of this bag's interior is not publicly disclosed by Wellness, making it impossible to assess whether fluorinated compounds (PFAS) or other synthetic polymers are present in the food-contact layer.
The brand's record and disclosure
Wellness (part of WellPet LLC) has not published detailed information about packaging materials or PFAS content in their product documentation or corporate sustainability reports available to consumers. The brand does not offer voluntary third-party certification (e.g., Clean Label Project, NSF) that would independently verify packaging safety. No major recalls related to packaging contamination have been recorded for Wellness CORE, but silence on PFAS and barrier coatings is standard across most pet food manufacturers and reflects an industry-wide lack of transparency rather than assurance of safety.
How it compares in its category
Most dry pet food bags (from Purina, Royal Canin, Hill's, and other major brands) use similar kraft-paper-plus-interior-coating designs and rarely disclose PFAS status. Some premium or eco-conscious brands (e.g., The Farmer's Dog, Ollie) use recyclable or compostable outer materials but still rely on conventional plastic barriers inside. Wellness CORE's lack of disclosure matches industry norms, meaning this product is neither worse nor better than competitors on packaging transparency; the entire category lacks clear labeling.
If you buy it
Store the bag in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to slow any potential leaching or coating degradation. Do not microwave the bag or expose it to heat, as this can accelerate migration of any coating compounds into the food. Transfer dry kibble to an airtight glass or stainless steel container once opened to minimize prolonged contact with the bag's interior surface. If Wellness updates their packaging materials or discloses PFAS testing results, reassess the product; until then, this remains a best-judgment purchase with incomplete safety information.
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 packaging barrier coating
Pet food bag interiors commonly use fluorinated polymer coatings to create moisture barriers; Wellness does not disclose whether their bags contain PFAS, leaving this hazard unconfirmed but plausible based on industry practice.
Non-PFAS plastic polymer migration
If the interior coating uses conventional polyethylene, polypropylene, or other polymers without fluorination, migration of plasticizers or oligomers into dry kibble is possible over time, especially in warm storage conditions, though minimal risk exists for dry kibble relative to wet foods.
Ink or adhesive leachables on exterior
The kraft paper exterior uses standard food-grade inks and adhesives that are not in direct contact with food; no specific contamination events have been reported for this product or brand, though exterior inks are not typically tested for heavy metals or volatile organics.
Coating degradation over shelf life
Paper-based bags experience physical wear, punctures, and seal failure over time; once the interior barrier is compromised, the kibble may absorb moisture and any degraded coating particles could mix with food, though this is a storage and handling issue rather than a manufacturing defect.
Mold or fungal growth if bag is breached or stored improperly
No specific quality or hygiene issues have been reported for Wellness CORE; risk is dependent on consumer storage conditions rather than product formulation. Once opened, the bag's barrier becomes ineffective unless promptly sealed or the kibble is transferred.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 45% 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.