Whole Foods · Grease-Resistant Butcher & Deli Paper
EcoQuality Coated Butcher Paper
Grease-resistant coating raises concern; Whole Foods provides no PFAS disclosure.
Coated butcher paper likely uses water/grease-resistant treatment that may contain PFAS. Whole Foods does not disclose coating composition or PFAS status; unverified claims limit confidence.
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
Butcher paper with water-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
EcoQuality Butcher Paper is cellulose-based kraft paper with a water and grease-resistant coating applied to one side. The coating formulation is not disclosed publicly by Whole Foods, which is typical for food-service papers but creates uncertainty about whether synthetic polymers or fluorinated compounds are used. Butcher paper itself poses no hazard, but the coating's chemical identity directly determines safety for foods that contact it, especially fats and oils.
The brand's record and disclosure
Whole Foods has not published ingredient or material safety data sheets for EcoQuality Butcher Paper, nor committed to PFAS-free certification for this product line. The brand has made limited public statements on PFAS avoidance across its private-label products and does not appear on lists of retailers with formal PFAS reduction commitments. This silence does not confirm presence of PFAS, but reflects an absence of transparency that prevents independent verification.
How it compares in its category
Butcher paper with grease-resistant coatings is standard in food retail and foodservice. Uncoated kraft butcher paper eliminates coating risk entirely but loses water-resistance. Some competitors (e.g., If You Care, some Seventh Generation options) explicitly market PFAS-free or fluorine-free certifications; Whole Foods does not. Cost and functionality of EcoQuality are competitive, but transparency lag is a disadvantage versus certified alternatives.
If you buy it
Use for wrapping cold and room-temperature foods without concern. Avoid prolonged contact with hot foods or liquids above 140°F, as heat can increase coating migration. Store in a cool, dry place; discard if the coating visibly degrades, peels, or becomes tacky. For butchered meats you plan to freeze or cook, this product is appropriate; for long-term storage (weeks) of fatty foods at room temperature, uncoated or certified PFAS-free paper may be preferable.
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.”
Fluorinated coating (PFAS-like compounds)
Grease-resistant coatings on food-contact paper commonly use PFOA, PFOS, or longer-chain fluorinated alternatives. Whole Foods has not disclosed the coating chemistry, so presence cannot be ruled in or out from public information. Migration risk increases with heat and fatty/oily foods.
Non-fluorinated polymer coatings (alternative unknown)
If the coating is polyethylene, acrylic, or other synthetic polymer, migration of oligomers or additives (plasticizers, stabilizers) into fatty foods remains possible at low levels. No test data for this specific product is available.
Coating degradation and microparticles
Wear, cracking, or peeling of the coating during normal use could release small particles. No reported incidents with EcoQuality Butcher Paper; risk is general to all coated papers if damaged.
Formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasers in adhesives/binders
Some kraft papers use formaldehyde-based resins or urea-formaldehyde binders. No public disclosure by Whole Foods suggests either absence or omission. Butcher paper is not typically a major formaldehyde source compared to plywood or textiles, but ingredient opacity persists.
Bleach or chlorine residues in pulp processing
Most food-grade butcher paper is bleached kraft (ECF = elemental chlorine-free or TCF = totally chlorine-free). No specific claims made by Whole Foods; conventional processing typically leaves minimal residues.
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.
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.