Hormel Review, Is Hormel Non-Toxic?
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.
Across 6 graded products, Hormel averages Poor (44/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. 1 of its products grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
Worth buying from Hormel Good or better, safest first
Hormel
Gatherings Hard Salami & Pepperoni Party Tray
food (meat/pepperoni), plastic/paperboard tray
PFAS
Deli trays commonly use fluorinated coatings to repel grease and prevent seepage; direct…
Nitrites/nitrates in cured meat
Hormel uses sodium nitrite as a preservative, which is FDA-approved and present in all…
Bacterial growth or mold if seal is compromised
If the package seal is damaged or swollen before purchase, pathogenic bacteria (Listeria…
Lower concern for direct food PFAS, modest risk if tray has grease barrier.
⚠Risky category by default
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Hormel
Natural Choice Oven Roasted Deli Turkey
Plastic/paperboard meat packaging with unknown barrier coating
Sodium content and processed-meat nitrates
Deli turkey inherently contains sodium nitrite as a curing agent and preservative. Hormel…
Bacterial contamination risk if storage compromised
Vacuum-sealed deli meats create anaerobic conditions that can allow Listeria…
Unknown fluorinated grease-barrier coating composition
The inner plastic layer almost certainly contains a fluorinated barrier to prevent fat…
Allergen cross-contamination during processing
Hormel facilities process multiple meat products; the label does not explicitly state…
Skip, deli packaging often uses grease barriers; Hormel lacks PFAS transparency.
⚠Risky category by default
Hormel
Deli Turkey Oven Roasted Double Pack
Plastic film and/or laminated paperboard packaging
BPA & bisphenols
Adhesives or coatings in the laminated structure may contain trace BPA or phthalates, but…
Bacterial growth if packaging integrity fails
Punctured, damaged, or improperly stored packaging can allow bacterial contamination of…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Laminated packaging may use formaldehyde-based adhesives, but volatile release into the…
Heavy metals
Printed graphics on the exterior may contain trace amounts of lead or cadmium in inks…
No public PFAS commitment from Hormel, contact brand for clear answers.
⚠Risky category by default
Hormel
Deli Honey Ham
plastic film packaging with grease-resistant coating
PFAS
Grease-resistant deli packaging almost universally contains PFAS (per FDA and peer…
Plastic film degradation and migration
Polyethylene and polypropylene film can release oligomers or additives (such as slip…
Sodium nitrite/nitrate as curing agent
Deli ham is cured with sodium nitrite or sodium nitrate, a health concern unrelated to…
Bacterial contamination risk from packaging breaches
If packaging film is punctured, torn, or degraded in transit or storage, the meat is…
Skip or limit exposure, grease-resistant deli packaging typically contains PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Hormel
Natural Choice Smoked Deli Turkey
paper/plastic composite packaging with grease-resistant coating
PFAS
The fluorinated polymer coat is not chemically identified by Hormel. Peer-reviewed…
Sodium nitrite/nitrate preservatives
Smoked deli turkey contains sodium nitrite (or nitrate) as a curing agent and…
Plastic film degradation and microplastic migration
The polyethylene or polypropylene film component can fragment if the package is creased…
Coating adhesion loss over shelf life
Grease-resistant coatings degrade gradually as contact with fatty meat oils breaks down…
Skip until Hormel discloses coating materials or confirms PFAS-free status.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Hormel
Deli Roast Beef
Paper/cardboard packaging with likely grease-resistant coating
PFAS
The paper/cardboard coating on Hormel deli roast beef packaging is graded Poor (25/100)…
Sodium nitrite as a preservative in cured meat
Nitrites are permitted food additives but are associated with formation of N-nitroso…
Sodium content and dietary effects
Deli roast beef is a cured, processed meat with high sodium for preservation and flavor.…
Migration of coating components into fatty meat
Grease-resistant coatings can migrate into high-fat foods under normal storage or warm…
Skip or choose alternatives with clear packaging disclosure about PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →