Dart Container · Food Packaging
Dart Compostable Fiber Take-Out Bowl 24 oz.
Avoid unless Dart discloses coating chemistry, compostable bowls often use PFAS barriers.
Dart markets these fiber bowls as eco-friendly but won't reveal the grease-resistant coating formula. Compostable food packaging routinely uses PFAS-based Teflon-family coating.
The better-graded swap
Vegware
Vegware Compostable Microflute Takeaway Box
100/100 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
Compostable fiber (plant-based) with unspecified grease-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Dart Compostable Fiber Take-Out Bowl oz. is made of, ingredients and materials
Dart's compostable fiber bowls are made from plant-based molded fiber (typically bagasse, wheat straw, or recycled paper) bonded with a petroleum-free resin. The critical unknown is the grease-resistant coating applied to the interior surface, which in the compostable fiber industry commonly contains PFAS (PFAS "forever chemicals") to prevent liquids from saturating the porous fiber. Dart has not publicly disclosed the specific chemistry of this coating, making independent verification of PFAS content impossible from available 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
Compostable fiber bowls commonly use fluorinated coatings to repel moisture and oil. Dart has not disclosed coating chemistry, and independent lab data for this specific product is unavailable; however, the industry-wide practice and Dart's silence suggest elevated risk compared to certified PFAS-free competitors.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating migration into fatty or warm foods
If the interior coating contains PFAS or other synthetic polymers, exposure increases when contact time is prolonged, temperatures rise, or food is oily (fats act as solvents). Cold, dry foods pose lower risk; hot or fatty foods should be avoided in this product.
Microplastic or particulate from fiber degradation
Molded fiber bowls can shed fibers or coating fragments during use, especially if the bowl is flexed, moisture-saturated, or exposed to acidic food. Risk is higher if the coating is thin or compromised; this has not been formally tested for Dart's product.
What’s reassuring
Chemical residues from processing or adhesives
Compostable fiber manufacturing may involve bleaching agents, sizing resins, or adhesives in the substrate. No recalls or public complaints specific to Dart's bowl cite chemical contamination, but full ingredient transparency is absent.
Contamination from non-food-grade recycled fiber feedstock
If Dart sources recycled paper for its bowls, residual inks, adhesives, or contaminants from previous use could theoretically transfer to food. Industry standards and FDA oversight nominally prevent this, but verification depends on Dart's supplier controls, which are not publicly disclosed.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Dart Container is a major supplier of disposable food packaging but maintains minimal transparency on chemical formulations for its compostable lines. The company has not published a PFAS disclosure statement or committed to PFAS-free certification for this product category, unlike some competitors (e.g., Footprint, World Centric) who explicitly market PFAS-free alternatives. No recalls or regulatory actions specific to this bowl model have been recorded, but the silence on coating chemistry is a red flag in an industry where PFAS migration into food is an emerging concern.
How it compares in its category
Among compostable takeout bowls, Dart's product is priced competitively and widely available, but lags behind certified PFAS-free alternatives in transparency. Brands like World Centric and Vegware publish third-party test results showing PFAS-free coatings; Dart does not. Conventional polyethylene-coated paper bowls (non-compostable) carry similar PFAS risk, so compostability alone does not guarantee lower concern chemistry. For consumers prioritizing both compostability and PFAS avoidance, this product ranks lower than transparent competitors.
If you buy it
Use this bowl only for cold or room-temperature foods and dry items (salads, bakery, takeout that will not be reheated). Do not microwave or heat, as warm or oily foods may increase coating migration. These bowls are intended for single use; do not reuse or hand-wash for repurposing. If composting at home, verify your facility accepts plant-based compostable packaging, as many curbside programs reject it; industrial composting is the intended end-of-life pathway.
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
- Dart Container has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Dart Compostable Fiber Take-Out Bowl 24 oz.?
- Plant-based fiber pulp (compostable)
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Microbe/mold growth if stored damp
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Eco-Products
Eco Products WorldView Compostable Take-Out Containers EP-SCRC32
- Plant-based fiber (compostable sugarcane bagasse)
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Bleaching agents and processing residues
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Eco-Products
WorldView Sugarcane Take-Out Containers
- Sugarcane bagasse (post-consumer fiber)
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Cellulose fiber degradation and food contact
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More food 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.