Staples · Grease-Resistant Deli & Butcher Paper
Staples Butcher Paper Roll
Butcher paper likely has grease-resistant coating; PFAS status unclear.
Butcher paper is kraft-based with water and grease resistance, typically achieved via PFAS or wax. Staples and Butcher & Packer don't disclose coating composition.
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
kraft paper with grease-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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
Grease-resistant food-contact coatings commonly rely on PFAS; Staples has not disclosed coating chemistry. PFAS can migrate into fatty foods and accumulate in the body; risk increases with heat and duration of contact.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and leachables
Mechanical damage, folding, or contact with oils may compromise coating integrity over time. Leaching risk from degraded coating material into food is not documented for this product but is a known risk class for coated food-contact papers.
What’s reassuring
Thermal stability of coating
No data on record for heat tolerance or fume release from Staples Butcher Paper coating. Behavior above room temperature is undocumented; assume unspecified risk if used with hot foods or heat sources.
Bleaching residues in kraft
Kraft paper is commonly bleached with chlorine or oxygen-based agents; Staples does not specify. Food-contact bleached paper poses minimal residual risk under FDA guidelines, but full process history is not public.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Staples Butcher Paper is kraft paper (bleached or unbleached cellulose) with an applied grease-resistant coating. Grease resistance in food-contact paper typically requires fluorinated compounds (PFAS) or wax; Staples has not publicly disclosed which. Kraft paper itself is inert and food-safe under normal use; the coating is the chemical concern here.
The brand's record and disclosure
Staples has not published ingredient lists, safety certifications, or PFAS statements for this product. The company has no known public commitment to phasing PFAS from food-contact papers. No recalls or adverse reports are on record for this specific product. This silence makes independent verification of coating composition impossible.
How it compares in its category
Most butcher and deli papers use grease-resistant coatings; PFAS-free alternatives (wax-coated, clay-coated, or uncoated kraft) exist but are less common in mass retail. Staples does not market this as PFAS-free or PFOA-free, distinguishing it from some specialty or premium butcher papers. Price point and availability suggest conventional coating chemistry rather than PFAS-avoidant formulation.
If you buy it
Use for wrapping cold or room-temperature foods only; do not heat, microwave, or allow contact with hot oils or meats above ~140F, as coating integrity and leaching behavior at temperature are undocumented. Replace roll if coating visibly degrades, tears, or shows discoloration. Store in cool, dry conditions away from direct sunlight. Consider single-use application only, not reusable wrapping.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Staples has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Grease-Resistant Deli & Butcher Paper
IDL Packaging
White Butcher Paper 18" x Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
bleached paper, uncoated
Mold or microbial growth during storage
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
IDL Packaging
White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
bleached kraft paper, no specified coating
Ink or printing residue (if printed side contacts food)
Limited concern
Mold or microbial growth during storage
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
If You Care
Parchment Baking Sheets
unbleached parchment paper, silicone coating
Silicone coating degradation under heat stress
Limited concern
Mold or microbial growth if stored damp
Limited concern
Brand no-added-PFAS claim and a 2021 lab result with no fluorine detected.
✓Lab test found no PFAS
More grease-resistant deli & butcher paper 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.