365 by Whole Foods · Microwave Popcorn
365 EVERYDAY VALUE Organic Reduced Fat & Sodium Popcorn, 6 oz
Popcorn bag likely uses grease-resistant treatment. Brand disclosure unclear.
Popcorn bags commonly use PFAS-based water and grease repellents. No PFAS claim or third-party verification from brand available.
The better-graded swap
Wabash Valley
Wabash Valley Farms Sweet
70/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Good.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
kraft paper bag, grease-resistant inner coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What 365 EVERYDAY VALUE Organic Reduced Fat is made of, ingredients and materials
This product is packaged in kraft paper with a grease-resistant inner coating, a standard practice in popcorn and oily snack packaging to prevent oil from degrading the bag. Grease-resistant coatings on food contact materials are commonly formulated with PFAS (PFAS "forever chemicals") or their analogs, which do not break down in the environment or human body. The coating sits directly against the popcorn, creating potential for migration of coating chemicals into the food, especially when the product is stored at room temperature or warmer. Kraft paper itself is a low-hazard material, but the added coating introduces the primary chemical concern.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
PFAS
Kraft paper bags for oily snacks typically use fluorinated or alternative grease barriers; direct food contact and room-temperature storage create conditions for potential chemical migration into popcorn.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastics
Coating breakdown over time or with temperature fluctuations could theoretically shed particles into the product, though no documented cases specific to this brand or product are on record.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
BPA & bisphenols
No evidence that 365 popcorn bags use BPA-containing adhesives or binders, but full coating composition is not publicly disclosed, so presence cannot be ruled out.
Source, FDA ↗Solvent residues from coating application
Industrial coating processes may leave trace solvent residues, but finished packaged food products are not known to exhibit measurable solvent contamination from kraft bag manufacture.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
365 by Whole Foods does not publicly disclose the specific chemicals used in their packaging coatings, including whether PFAS or PFAS alternatives are present. Whole Foods parent company Amazon has made limited commitments to PFAS phase-out in packaging but has not published a detailed timeline or list of affected product lines. The brand's silence on this standard food-contact coating practice is consistent with many mainstream food manufacturers, few of which voluntarily identify grease-resistant treatments to consumers. No product-specific recalls or documented contamination events related to this popcorn packaging have been reported.
How it compares in its category
Most bagged popcorn products use grease-resistant coatings, making this product typical rather than exceptional in its category. Some premium or specialty brands (e.g., Simple Mills, Pipcorn) explicitly market PFAS-free or alternative coating materials, though verification is limited. Loose popcorn sold in bulk or from movie theaters avoids this coating issue entirely but sacrifices shelf-life and convenience. Store-brand popcorn across retailers rarely discloses coating composition, so differentiation is difficult without direct manufacturer contact.
If you buy it
Store the unopened bag at room temperature away from heat sources, as elevated temperatures can increase migration of coating chemicals into the product. Once opened, transfer leftover popcorn to a glass or metal container rather than leaving it in the original bag for extended periods. Do not microwave the popcorn in its original bag if the bag is provided; use a proper microwave popcorn container or stovetop method. If PFAS exposure is a personal concern, consider whole popcorn kernels you pop yourself or brands explicitly certified PFAS-free.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- 365 by Whole Foods has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Microwave Popcorn
Quaker
Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes
- puffed rice cakes in paperboard packaging
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Mold or bacterial growth in packaging
Trader Joe's
2 Packs Trader Joe's Synergistically Seasoned Popcorn 5.5 Oz Each Pack
- paperboard popcorn bag, grease-resistant interior lining
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Moisture and mold risk if bag is compromised
Wabash Valley
Farms Sweet
- 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. See all of them.
More microwave popcorn grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.