If You Care Review, Is If You Care 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 8 graded products, If You Care averages Poor (46/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. 3 of its products grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
Worth buying from If You Care Good or better, safest first
If You Care
Slow Cooking Liners
Unbleached parchment paper
Thermal degradation and smoke at high heat
Unbleached parchment paper starts to brown around 420°F and smoke risk increases above…
Mold or bacterial growth if stored wet or damp
Parchment paper is cellulose-based and hygroscopic (absorbs moisture). If liners are…
Adhesion failure and paper fragments in food
Unbleached parchment liners rely on friction and moisture to stay in place; they lack the…
Lower-concern option; parchment with verified PFAS-free certification.
⚠Risky category by default
If You Care
5 1/4" x 7 1/2" Kraft Bakery Bag w/ Clear Front
Kraft paper with unbleached cellulose; clear window (likely cellulose film or polyester); no added fluorinated treatment
Ink and dyes on printed surfaces
If You Care bags typically use soy-based inks, but food-contact printing regulations…
Cellulose film window degradation and microparticles
Cellulose films (especially regenerated cellulose) can fracture or shed fine particles…
Adhesive or glue residues (window seal)
Sealing the clear window to kraft typically uses food-safe adhesives, but water-based…
Mold and bacterial growth if moisture intrusion occurs
Kraft is hygroscopic and will absorb moisture, creating conditions for microbial…
Lower concern as kraft plus clear window design avoids typical PFAS treatment.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
If You Care
Parchment Baking Paper
silicone-coated parchment paper
Silicone coating degradation over time
While silicone is stable at normal baking temperatures, prolonged storage or exposure to…
Lower concern since credible brand transparency and third-party backing substantially reduce PFAS risk.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
If You Care
Fsc Certified Unbleached Carnauba Waxed Paper
unbleached paper with carnauba wax coating
Microplastic or wax particle shedding into food
Carnauba wax coating can flake or degrade under heat, friction, or aging. Shed wax…
Grease migration and oil interaction
Carnauba wax is less soluble in oils and fats than synthetic Teflon-family coating…
Lower concern since carnauba wax is a natural alternative to Teflon-family coating coatings, though wax source warrants direct brand verification.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
If You Care
Parchment Baking Paper
bleached paper with undisclosed grease-resistant coating
PFAS
Target's undisclosed grease-resistant coating is most commonly fluorocarbon-based in this…
Coating degradation and particulate release
Repeated high-heat exposure or physical damage to the coating surface can cause flaking…
Microplastic or coating particle contamination from manufacturing
No recalls or testing data available for Target's parchment line, but coating application…
Parchment paper likely treated; coating ingredients not disclosed.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
If You Care
Waxed Paper
paper with wax coating (paraffin-based)
Paraffin wax leaching
Paraffin wax is non-toxic and food-approved, but minor lipophilic migration into fatty…
Thermal degradation (smoke/fume inhalation)
If wax paper is exposed to direct flame or oven temperatures above 420F, paraffin can…
Mold or microbial growth on stored rolls
Waxed paper stored in damp conditions can harbor mold on the paper substrate itself…
Lower PFAS concern since traditional wax paper is unlikely to contain PFAS, but no explicit brand statement.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
If You Care
Non Stick Parchment Roasting Bags
Silicone-coated parchment paper (coating chemistry undisclosed)
Silicone coating leaching or degradation at high heat
While silicone is thermally stable at baking temperatures, If You Care does not publish…
Undisclosed adhesion agents or processing aids in coating
Silicone coatings typically require cross-linkers or slip agents (such as silica-based…
Microplastic shedding from coating wear
Repeated folding, creasing, or high-temperature use may cause the silicone coating to…
Wait for brand disclosure of coating chemistry before purchasing.
⚠Nonstick, coating undisclosed
If You Care
Dollar General Handi-Wrap Slow Cookers
ceramic or ceramic-coated interior (unspecified)
Lead
Budget ceramic cookware coatings frequently use lead-based glazes as cost reducers. No…
Ceramic coating degradation and leaching
Unspecified ceramic coatings on budget slow cooker liners are prone to crazing…
Aluminum or metal substrate leaching
If the liner substrate is aluminum with minimal glaze coverage or a thin ceramic layer…
Undisclosed Teflon-family coating or resin in coating
Low-cost ceramic cookware sometimes incorporates synthetic resin binders or…
Skip; unverified coating on a budget slow cooker.
⚠Nonstick, coating undisclosed
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →