Applegate · Deli Meat & Cold Cuts Packaging
Applegate Naturals Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Skip or call Applegate to learn about coating chemistry and PFAS.
Applegate provides no public information about PFAS or packaging coatings for this product. Plastic film wrapping typically includes grease-resistant treatment, a common place PFAS appears in food packaging.
The better-graded swap
IDL Packaging
Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
95/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Plastic film package with grease-resistant coating (likely food contact surface)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Applegate Naturals Oven Turkey Breast is made of, ingredients and materials
Applegate Naturals Oven Roasted Turkey Breast is packaged in a plastic film with a grease-resistant coating, a standard practice in deli meat packaging to prevent oil migration and product degradation. The coating chemistry is not disclosed on packaging or public brand materials. Grease-resistant food contact coatings historically relied on PFAS (perfluorinated compounds) to repel oils, though newer alternatives exist. Without specific coating composition disclosure, the product's non-PFAS status cannot be verified from available public sources.
What’s concerning
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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Plastic film coating chemistry is not disclosed. Grease-resistant deli meat coatings have historically used PFAS compounds (e.g., polyfluoroalkyl substances) to prevent oil migration. Without manufacturer confirmation or third-party testing data on record, PFAS presence cannot be ruled out.
Source, ATSDR ↗Unidentified food contact coating leachables
The specific grease-resistant coating formulation is proprietary and not public. Potential for minor migration of coating components into fatty meat product over storage time is inherent to the packaging design, though FDA-approved food contact materials are formulated to remain below established migration limits.
Sodium content (product formulation, not packaging)
Deli turkey breast is a cured meat product with high sodium content (typically 400-600 mg per 2 oz serving). This is a formulation hazard, not packaging-related, but relevant to repeated consumption risk for sodium-sensitive populations.
Processed meat classification (product formulation, not packaging)
WHO and IARC classify processed meats as a carcinogen when consumed in high frequency. This is inherent to the deli meat category and applies equally to Applegate and competitors; not specific to this brand or package.
Plastic film degradation if mishandled
If stored above recommended temperature or punctured, the film coating may degrade or separate from the substrate, accelerating contact between the meat and polymer, though risk of health impact remains low under normal retail and home conditions.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Applegate is owned by Hormel Foods and markets products under a 'natural' positioning, but does not publicly disclose food contact material chemistry or commit to PFAS-free packaging on its website or product labeling. The brand has not issued transparency statements specific to grease-resistant coating composition in deli packaging. Applegate has not been the subject of documented recalls or enforcement actions tied to packaging leachables, but silence on coating chemistry is a disclosure gap relative to consumer right-to-know on food contact materials.
How it compares in its category
Most conventional deli meats (Boar's Head, Oscar Mayer, Hormel) use similar plastic film packaging with proprietary grease-resistant coatings and offer no public coating transparency. Organic and 'natural' deli brands (Applegate, Diestel) do not distinguish themselves by packaging safety disclosure. Some specialty retailers (Whole Foods deli counters) offer loose-sliced turkey without film packaging, eliminating coating exposure entirely, though with shorter shelf life. Applegate's positioning does not reflect packaging material safety as a differentiator.
If you buy it
Store in the original sealed package at 32-40F and use within 7-10 days of opening per USDA guidance, as with all deli meats. Do not heat the meat while still in the film; transfer to a plate or container before reheating. Limit direct, prolonged contact between the coating and fatty meat surfaces by consuming promptly after opening. If coating transparency is important to your household, contact Applegate customer service at 1-800-365-1655 or applegate.com to request specific confirmation of PFAS-free status and coating material name before committing to regular purchase.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Applegate has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Applegate Naturals Oven Roasted Turkey Breast?
IDL Packaging
White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
- natural kraft butcher paper, no coating specified
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Bleach residue and chlorine compounds
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- stainless steel blade, bare metal construction
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Blade degradation and metal particle shedding
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- kraft paper, unbleached cellulose
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More deli meat & cold cuts packaging 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.