16 oz Square Paper Food Pail with Handle
Skip until coating details are disclosed by brand.
Fold-Pak does not disclose the grease-resistant coating on this paper pail. Paper food containers often use PFAS-based Teflon-family coating for water and grease resistance; confirmation needed from the brand.
The better-graded swap
World Centric
World Centric Compostable Fiber Compost-A-Pak Containers
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, grease-resistant coating (unspecified)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What 16 oz Square Paper Food Pail with Handle is made of, ingredients and materials
This product is kraft paper, a cellulose-based material made from wood pulp, formed into a rigid pail shape with a folded handle. The grease-resistant coating is the critical unknown, many kraft food containers use fluorinated compounds (PFAS) or, less commonly, silicone or wax-based alternatives. Kraft paper itself does not leach or degrade into food under normal storage conditions, but the coating's composition and integrity determine whether harmful compounds can migrate into food.
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
If the grease-resistant coating is non-fluorinated, it may use silicone, polyester-based, or wax additives that are not established as harmful but have limited long-term food-contact safety data. Kraft paper itself poses no chemical leaching risk.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and migration
Fluorinated and non-fluorinated food-contact coatings on paper can degrade with age, moisture, or temperature stress, potentially releasing coating components into food. This risk increases with extended storage or exposure to oils.
What’s reassuring
Microplastics
Kraft paper pails do not shed microplastics under normal use; cellulose fibers are biodegradable and pose no documented ingestion risk in food storage applications.
Source, EPA ↗Thermal stability and fume risk
Kraft paper pails are not designed for high-temperature exposure (no Teflon-type coating or similar fume hazard exists), but heating any food-contact coating risks degradation and leaching regardless of composition.
Bleach and chlorine residue from paper production
Kraft pulping processes use minimal chlorine compared to bleached white paper; FDA-cleared food-contact paper typically has residual bleach levels below regulatory thresholds, and no established migration risk exists for this product class.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Fold-Pak has not publicly disclosed the chemical composition of the grease-resistant coating on this pail. The brand has no established track record of transparency on PFAS use in food packaging, and no major certifications (such as third-party testing for PFAS-free status) are noted. Without this information, it is impossible to confirm whether the coating is PFAS-based or an alternative formulation.
How it compares in its category
Most 16 oz paper food pails in foodservice use fluorinated coatings for grease resistance; PFAS-free options exist but are less common in budget-tier products. Compostable paper pails certified by third parties (BPI or OK Compost) often disclose coating materials but typically cost more. Glass, stainless steel, and ceramic alternatives eliminate coating concerns but sacrifice the pail's intended portability and disposability.
If you buy it
Use this pail for dry foods or foods stored below 40°F (refrigerated) to minimize any coating-to-food transfer risk; avoid prolonged contact with oily or acidic foods. Do not heat the pail in a microwave or oven, as this can stress the coating and increase leaching. Replace immediately if the interior coating shows visible damage, peeling, or discoloration. Request the coating specification sheet from Fold-Pak before purchase if PFAS exposure is a concern for your household.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Fold-Pak has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to 16 oz Square Paper Food Pail with Handle?
- 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.