Does Hefty disposable food containers have PFAS?
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.
We graded 9 Hefty disposable food containers products, averaging Poor (40/100). 3 of them grade Good or better.
Hefty disposable food containers worth buying Good or better, safest first
Hefty
Food Service Containers Rectangle 9 3/4" x 5" x 3 1/4" 125 ct
Polypropylene (disposable food containers)
Polymer degradation and oligomer leaching
Polypropylene can release low-molecular-weight oligomers when exposed to heat, light, or…
Microplastic shedding from wear
Disposable containers may shed microscopic plastic fragments if repeatedly flexed…
Migration of recycled plastic contaminants
If Hefty's containers use post-consumer recycled polypropylene (not independently…
Lower concern, but brand provides no PFAS disclosure either way.
⚠Risky category by default
Hefty
Food Storage Containers with Lids
Polypropylene (PP) plastic container with lids
Phthalates
Phthalate plasticizers are occasionally used in PP compounds to improve flexibility…
Microplastics
Repeated heating, freezing, or microwaving can cause surface cracking or particulate…
Oligomer and monomer leaching
PP containers can release trace amounts of residual propylene oligomers or processing…
Lid seal failure and bacterial growth
Worn or warped lids may not seal properly, allowing bacterial contamination during…
Lower concern, polypropylene containers unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Hefty
Clear Plastic Hinged Take-Out Containers
polypropylene (PP) plastic
Microplastic generation from heating or degradation
Exposure to temperatures above 100°C or repeated microwave heating can cause surface…
Bacterial contamination from hinge/seal design
Hinged closures can trap food residue and moisture; inadequate cleaning before storage…
Lower concern, no known PFAS risk from PP hinged containers.
⚠Risky category by default
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Hefty
Supreme Foam Hinged Lid Container
Polystyrene foam with unspecified surface coating
PFAS
Polystyrene foam food packaging widely uses fluorinated surface treatments for grease…
Polystyrene degradation and additive leaching
Polystyrene foam breaks down over time, especially when exposed to heat, light, or fatty…
Microplastic fragmentation
Foam containers fragment easily during handling, storage, and transport. Particles can…
Unspecified surface coating toxicity
The coating composition is not disclosed. Beyond PFAS, coatings may contain other…
Skip, foam food packaging frequently uses fluorinated coatings.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Hefty
Stock Your Home 6-inch Clamshell Take Out Food Containers
Polypropylene (PP) clamshell with grease-resistant coating
Microplastics
Repeated use, scratching, or thermal stress can degrade PP and any surface coating…
Grease-resistant coating stability
The grease-resistant treatment is unspecified by manufacturer. If Teflon-type coating or…
Heat-induced polymer breakdown
Polypropylene begins to soften and degrade above 130°C. Microwaving or hot-filling these…
Mold and bacterial growth if reused
These are single-use disposables; reuse for storage can trap bacteria in crevices or a…
Likely lower PFAS concern, but grease-resistant coating remains unverified.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Hefty
Supreme Large Sandwich Foam Hinged Lid Containers
Expanded polystyrene foam with unspecified grease-resistant coating
Styrene monomer and oligomers leaching
EPS foam can release small amounts of unreacted styrene monomers, especially when in…
Microplastic particulate shedding
Expanded polystyrene degrades physically over time and when compressed, microwaved, or…
Unspecified grease-resistant coating leachates
Fluorinated or non-fluorinated polymeric coatings on foam food packaging can migrate into…
Off-gassing of volatile organics (VOCs)
Freshly manufactured EPS foam and applied coatings may emit trace VOCs (styrene, pentane)…
Skip, foam food packaging often contains PFAS for grease resistance.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Hefty
Hoagie Hinged Lid Containers
Polypropylene (PP) with grease-resistant coating
PFAS
Grease-resistant treatment in food containers commonly relies on PFAS; Hefty does not…
Microplastics
Repeated heating, mechanical wear, or acidic/fatty foods can fragment the interior…
Heat-related leaching
Heating weakens the grease-resistant coating bond and can accelerate migration of coating…
Coating scratching and particle ingestion
Sharp utensils or abrasive contact can chip or scratch the interior coating. Ingestion of…
Food containers likely have grease-resistant treatment, PFAS presence unclear.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Hefty
Clear Hinged Tray 8" x 8" 125 ct.
polystyrene (PS) with unclear grease-resistant coating
Styrene monomer leaching
Polystyrene naturally sheds trace styrene monomer, especially when contacted by fatty…
Grease-resistant coating degradation and particle shedding
Teflon-family coating coatings on food trays are prone to chipping, cracking, or peeling…
Styrene and additive migration into fatty/oily foods
Polystyrene additives (including plasticizers and stabilizers) migrate preferentially…
Microplastics
Physical stress (stacking, handling, temperature swings) causes microcracking in…
Grease-resistant food trays often contain PFAS, no disclosure suggests risk.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Hefty
Supreme Foam Hinged Lid 3-Compartment Containers
Expanded polystyrene foam with grease-resistant coating
PFAS
Expanded polystyrene food packaging relies on fluorinated barrier coatings for water and…
Styrene monomer leaching
Polystyrene foam degrades with age, heat, and solvent contact, releasing residual styrene…
Microplastics
EPS foam is fragile and sheds particles during handling, stacking, and use. These micro-…
Coating delamination and unknown additives
The applied grease barrier may degrade, flake, or leach additives (plasticizers…
Skip, foam food containers typically contain fluorinated grease barriers.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Better disposable food containers from other brands
Graded higher than the Hefty average of 40.
Lakeland
Sustainables 3 Compartment Hinged Lid To Go Food Container
Molded fiber/pulp (plant-based)
Degradation and food contact integrity
Limited concern
Mold or bacterial growth from moisture retention
Limited concern
Lower concern, molded fiber food containers rarely contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Rubbermaid
TakeAlongs Food Storage Containers 10 Piece Set
polypropylene plastic containers with lids
Microplastics
Limited concern
Leaching from lid components
Limited concern
Mold and bacterial growth in seals
Moderate concern
Lower concern, basic plastic food storage with no known PFAS triggers.
⚠Risky category by default
Rubbermaid
TakeAlongs Meal Prep Containers
polypropylene (PP) container, polyester gasket
Microplastics
Limited concern
Polyester gasket degradation
Limited concern
Odor absorption and food flavor transfer
Moderate concern
Lower concern for PFAS, no Teflon-family coating coatings typical of this type.
⚠Risky category by default
See every Hefty product we grade on the Hefty brand page, or the full disposable food containers ranking.