The Best Non-Toxic Microwave Popcorn of 2026
72 of the 76 microwave popcorn products PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 94.7% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 4 that pass. The highest graded is Quaker Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes at 70 out of 100.
Every grade below is built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, scored on one public rubric and ranked best-graded first. Each score links to the full breakdown of what earned it, and the numbers across the whole dataset are published too.
Is microwave popcorn non-toxic?
4 of the 76 microwave popcorn products we graded clear our screen and 72 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on microwave popcorn products in this category are undisclosed fragrance, microplastics, VOCs and off-gassing, BPA and bisphenols, phthalates. The highest graded here is Quaker Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes at 70 out of 100.
Quick picks
A second brand to consider
Trader Joe's 2 Packs Trader Joe's Synergistically Seasoned Popcorn 5.5 Oz Each PackThe best grade here from a brand other than the winner
70 Good
Why Quaker Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes wins, and what it beats
Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 2 products it beats, so you can see exactly where the 45 points between the top and the bottom of this microwave popcorn ranking come from.
The winner
Made of puffed rice cakes in paperboard packaging.
- +25Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- +15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
30risk points in total, which is a grade of 70
What the grade does not fix. It still carries one risk factor, No PFAS disclosure. See the full breakdown.
What it beats, and why
What puts it behind. The winner earns -10 points for Base material not linked to PFAS. We found nothing comparable published for this product.
Made of kraft paper bag, uncoated.
- +25Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure
40risk points, a grade of 60
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Grease-resistant coated paperboard (bag lining).
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +25Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure
75risk points, a grade of 25
No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.
What to watch for in microwave popcorn
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 76 microwave popcorn products in this category. We assess from materials, brand statements and published research. We do not lab-test.
- Undisclosed fragrance
A single word on a label that can stand for dozens of undeclared ingredients, protected as trade secret.
Found on 1 of these microwave popcorn products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 3 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- Microplastics
Plastic fragments small enough to shed from a product into food, water or air without anyone seeing it.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 28 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- VOCs and off-gassing
Volatile compounds that evaporate out of a material at room temperature, which is what a new product smell is.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 11 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- BPA and bisphenols
Chemicals that harden plastic and line metal cans, and the replacements sold as BPA-free.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 3 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NIEHS
- Phthalates
Plasticisers that keep vinyl soft and make a scent linger, usually undeclared.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 2 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NIEHS
The safest microwave popcorn we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
- 1
Highest grade here
- puffed rice cakes in paperboard packaging
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Mold or bacterial growth in packaging
- 2
- paperboard popcorn bag, grease-resistant interior lining
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Moisture and mold risk if bag is compromised
- 3
- paper-based food packaging with standard coating
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Ink migration (printing on exterior or interior)
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 4
- various, food packaging typically paperboard, plastic film
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastics
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
What the evidence says about PFAS in microwave popcorn
The US FDA names microwave popcorn bags as one of the uses of the PFAS grease-proofing substances applied to paper and paperboard food packaging, and announced in February 2024 that those substances are no longer being sold by manufacturers for food contact use in the US. A peer-reviewed analysis of 2003 to 2014 NHANES data found that eating popcorn was associated with significantly higher blood levels of four PFAS, up to a 63 percent increase in PFDA among people who ate it daily over the previous year, and the authors say that may be a consequence of PFAS migrating out of the bag. Washington State has prohibited intentionally added PFAS in bags and sleeves since May 2024.
- Regulatory filingThe FDA says the grease-proofing substances containing PFAS applied to paper and paperboard packaging were used on fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, take-out paperboard containers and pet food bags. US FDA ↗
- Regulatory filingOn February 28, 2024 the FDA announced that grease-proofing substances containing PFAS are no longer being sold by manufacturers for food contact use in the US market, and said completing that voluntary phase-out eliminates the primary source of dietary exposure to PFAS from authorized food contact uses. US FDA ↗
- StudyAn Environmental Health Perspectives analysis of 2003 to 2014 NHANES data found that eating popcorn was associated with significantly higher serum PFOA, PFNA, PFDA and PFOS, up to a 63 percent increase in PFDA among people who reported eating popcorn daily over the previous 12 months. The paper is doi 10.1289/EHP4092. Environmental Health Perspectives ↗
- StudyThe same authors write that the association between serum PFAS and popcorn consumption may be a consequence of PFAS migrating from microwave popcorn bags. Environmental Health Perspectives ↗
- Regulatory filingWashington State has prohibited the manufacture, sale and distribution of paper or plant-fibre food packaging bags and sleeves with intentionally added PFAS since May 1, 2024. Washington Department of Ecology ↗
- Regulatory filingMinnesota’s Amara’s Law prohibitions, in force since January 1, 2025, also apply to certain types of packaging used with the eleven banned product categories. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency ↗
Sources checked October 8, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.
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Every microwave popcorn that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. A higher score means lower PFAS risk.
| # | Microwave Popcorn | Score | Rating | Made of | Key concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quaker Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes | 70 | Good | puffed rice cakes in paperboard packaging | Mold or bacterial growth in packaging |
| 2 | Trader Joe's 2 Packs Trader Joe's Synergistically Seasoned Popcorn 5.5 Oz Each Pack | 70 | Good | paperboard popcorn bag, grease-resistant interior lining | Moisture and mold risk if bag is compromised |
| 3 | Wabash Valley Farms Sweet | 70 | Good | paper-based food packaging with standard coating | Ink migration (printing on exterior or interior) |
| 4 | 365 by Whole Foods Market | 70 | Good | various, food packaging typically paperboard, plastic film | Microplastics |
The verdict on microwave popcorn
Quaker Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes grades 70 out of 100, the highest here. It is puffed rice cakes in paperboard packaging. We found no PFAS statement from the brand, so the grade rests on materials alone.
Choose Trader Joe's 2 Packs Trader Joe's Synergistically Seasoned Popcorn 5.5 Oz Each Pack instead if you want a second option at 70 out of 100, paperboard popcorn bag, grease-resistant interior lining.
We hold no price data, so nothing here is a budget recommendation. Grades are model-based assessments from published materials and disclosures, not laboratory tests.
The microwave popcorn we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 25Poor
- 25Orville Redenbacher's Movie Theater Butter Microwave PopcornPoor
Grease-barrier coating migration (fluorinated or unknown chemistry)
- 25Poor
What we check on microwave popcorn
- Confirmed PFAS, PTFE or fluoropolymer content, which is the heaviest penalty we apply.
- Stain, water or grease resistant treatments, which usually mean fluorinated chemistry.
- Whether the brand discloses what is in the product, or stays silent behind a “clean” claim.
- Independent lab results and certifications where they exist.
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The microwave popcorn brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 19 of the brands here. That is our research, not proof a brand has never said anything, and it is not evidence of harm. It is why none of them score well on disclosure.
365 by Whole Foods, ACT II, Angie's Boom Chicka Pop, Great Value, Jolly Time, Kirkland Signature, Microwave Popcorn, Newman's Own, Orville Redenbacher's, Pirate's Booty, Pop Secret, Pop Weaver.
The brands that have published something, and what each of them actually said, are in our record of what every brand has said about PFAS.
Common questions about PFAS in microwave popcorn
Is microwave popcorn PFAS free?
72 of the 76 microwave popcorn products PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 94.7% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 4 that pass. The highest graded is Quaker Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes at 70 out of 100. The lowest graded is ACT II Butter Lovers Microwave Popcorn at 25 out of 100.
Is microwave popcorn non-toxic?
4 of the 76 microwave popcorn products we graded clear our screen and 72 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on microwave popcorn products in this category are undisclosed fragrance, microplastics, VOCs and off-gassing, BPA and bisphenols, phthalates. The highest graded here is Quaker Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes at 70 out of 100.
What is the safest microwave popcorn to buy?
On our grades, Quaker Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes at 70 out of 100, which we band as Good. Then Trader Joe's 2 Packs Trader Joe's Synergistically Seasoned Popcorn 5.5 Oz Each Pack at 70. These are model-based assessments from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and disclosures, not laboratory tests, so treat them as the lowest risk we can evidence rather than a safety guarantee.
Which microwave popcorn grades best for PFAS?
Quaker Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes, at 70 out of 100, which we band as Good. It is puffed rice cakes in paperboard packaging. The runner up is Trader Joe's 2 Packs Trader Joe's Synergistically Seasoned Popcorn 5.5 Oz Each Pack at 70.
Which microwave popcorn should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are ACT II Butter Lovers Microwave Popcorn at 25, Orville Redenbacher's Movie Theater Butter Microwave Popcorn at 25, Great Value Light Butter Flavored Microwave Popcorn at 25. The problem with the first is that microwave popcorn bags often use grease-resistant coatings; ask manufacturer directly.
Which microwave popcorn brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 19 of the brands we scored in this category, including 365 by Whole Foods, ACT II, Angie's Boom Chicka Pop, Great Value, Jolly Time, Kirkland Signature. That is what our research turned up, not proof a brand has never said anything, and a missing statement is not evidence of harm. It is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test microwave popcorn?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
More kitchen and cooking categories we have graded
Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to microwave popcorn.
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Does a particular brand of microwave popcorn have PFAS?
We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Microwave Popcorn, Every Major Brand Graded
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 76 microwave popcorn.