Dr. Scholl's Review, Is Dr. Scholl's Non-Toxic?
Across 9 graded products, Dr. Scholl's averages Good (51/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. None of its products grade Good or better yet. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Does Dr. Scholl's have PFAS, by category
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Dr. Scholl's
Men's Sports & Athletic Shoes Comfort Insoles
foam, gel, cushioning polymers
Foam degradation and microparticle shedding
Closed-cell foam can break down over extended use, particularly if compressed repeatedly…
Lower concern. Foam insoles typically don't contain PFAS.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Dr. Scholl's
Men's Athletic Series Running Insoles
Foam cushioning, gel, textile cover
Polyurethane foam off-gassing and degradation
Cured polyurethane foam is chemically stable, but aged foam can degrade into small…
Allergens in textile or adhesives
The adhesive bonding foam layers to the textile cover may contain low levels of…
Insole foam and textiles pose lower PFAS concern without evidence.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Dr. Scholl's
Men's Sports Cushions Shock Absorbing Shoe Inserts
foam cushioning, likely polyurethane or EVA
Adhesive or bonding agent degradation
Foam backing is glued to the textile layer; over time and with moisture, adhesive can…
Odor and microbial growth in degraded foam
Worn foam inserts can trap moisture and develop bacterial or fungal odors, especially in…
Contact dermatitis from dyes or finishes
Azo dyes or chemical finishes in the backing fabric could trigger reactions in…
Standard foam inserts unlikely to contain PFAS triggers.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Dr. Scholl's
Go Sockless! Cushioning Insoles
foam cushioning, polyurethane gel, textile cover
Polyurethane foam degradation and particle shedding
Aged or heavily compressed polyurethane foam can break down into fine particles. While…
PFAS
Polyurethane gel formulations sometimes contain PFAS-based additives; textile covers may…
Lower concern without known PFAS indicators, but no brand data.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Dr. Scholl's
Sporti Insoles, Women's Sizes 6-10
foam cushioning, textile cover, gel components
Foam degradation and particle shedding
Polyurethane and EVA foams are mechanically stable but will crumble or fragment as they…
Allergen risk from cover material
Synthetic textile covers may contain residual dyes, processing chemicals, or irritants.…
Lower concern insole with no PFAS-prone materials identified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Dr. Scholl's
Men's Heel & Arch Orthotics
Foam, gel, or elastomer cushioning core
Foam and elastomer off-gassing (volatile organic compounds)
Polyurethane foam and certain elastomer blends can release low levels of VOCs…
Gel leakage or breakdown
Gel cushioning cores may develop small leaks or crystallize with age, especially if…
Lower PFAS concern; no evidence of high-risk coatings.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Dr. Scholl's
Athletic Series Sport Massaging Gel Insoles
Gel compound with synthetic polymers, unspecified coatings
Unspecified polymer coating leaching
The topical coating on gel insoles is not disclosed. Sweat exposure may cause slow…
Gel degradation and microparticle shedding
Gel insoles degrade over time and can fragment into small particles. Inhalation risk is…
Moisture trapping and bacterial/fungal growth
Gel insoles absorb and retain sweat. If not dried regularly or replaced on schedule, they…
Thermal instability and off-gassing
Sustained warmth from body heat and friction may cause polymer volatilization. No…
Skip. Gel composition and coatings lack PFAS transparency.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Dr. Scholl's
Dr. Scholls Women's Athletic Series Sport Insoles
foam, gel, fabric with moisture-wicking treatment
PFAS
Waterproof athletic insoles commonly use PFAS-based water-repellent coating…
Foam and gel microparticle shedding
EVA and polyurethane foam degrade under repeated compression and moisture; worn insoles…
Thermal degradation of foam cushioning
Prolonged exposure to heat (e.g., in a hot car or near high-temperature washers) can…
Higher concern. Moisture-wicking treatment chemistry is not stated.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Dr. Scholl's
Performance Sized to Fit Running Insoles
foam cushioning with durable topcoat finish
Coating leachates (fluorinated or non-fluorinated polymers)
The topcoat finish chemistry is undisclosed. If water-resistant via PFAS, direct foot…
Polyurethane foam degradation and isocyanate residues
Polyurethane foam manufacturing leaves trace isocyanate residues that can migrate…
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) off-gassing
EVA or polyurethane insoles release volatile compounds, especially when new and when…
Bacterial or fungal growth from moisture retention
Foam insoles that are not dried promptly trap sweat and create environments for microbial…
Wait for Dr. Scholl's to explain their waterproof coating chemistry.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Dr. Scholl's and PFAS, common questions
- Does Dr. Scholl's have PFAS?
- We graded 9 Dr. Scholl's products, averaging Good (51/100). None grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates built from published materials, ingredients and disclosures, not lab tests.
- Is Dr. Scholl's non-toxic?
- No Dr. Scholl's product we graded reaches Good. The best of them is Dr. Scholl's Men's Sports & Athletic Shoes Comfort Insoles at 65/100.
- Which Dr. Scholl's products should I avoid?
- The lowest-graded Dr. Scholl's products we have scored are Dr. Scholl's Performance Sized to Fit Running Insoles, Dr. Scholls Women's Athletic Series Sport Insoles, Dr. Scholl's Athletic Series Sport Massaging Gel Insoles. Each one links to the evidence behind its grade.
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →