16 oz White Chinese Take-Out Box with Handle 16WHWHITEM
Skip until brand discloses coating chemistry.
Chinese take-out boxes typically use paperboard with grease and water-resistant coatings to contain oily foods. Fold-Pak provides no public disclosure of coating chemistry, and such treatments historically relied on PFAS.
The better-graded swap
Bagasse
Bagasse PFAS-Free Food 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
Paperboard with water-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What 16 oz White Chinese Take-Out 16WHWHITEM is made of, ingredients and materials
This is a paperboard (virgin or recycled fiber) container with a water-resistant coating applied to the interior and exterior to prevent grease penetration and maintain structural integrity during use. The coating chemistry is not disclosed by Fold-Pak; given the PFAS concerns flagged in the grading, it is likely a fluorinated polymer treatment typical of food-service paperboard. Paperboard itself is inert, but the coating is the functional and chemical concern here.
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
Undisclosed coating chemistry on a water-resistant paperboard product strongly suggests fluorinated polymer use, consistent with industry practice. PFAS migration into fatty foods is a known concern; Fold-Pak has not committed to PFAS-free alternatives.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating migration into food (general)
Heat, prolonged contact with fatty or acidic foods, and physical degradation of the water-resistant layer can increase leaching of coating components into food. Risk is lower for dry or cool contents but rises sharply with temperature and oiliness.
What’s reassuring
BPA & bisphenols
No recall or published test result indicates BPA/BPS contamination in Fold-Pak takeout boxes. Recycled paperboard may carry trace additives, but this is not a reported concern for this product line.
Source, FDA ↗Heavy metals
White pigmentation in paperboard typically uses titanium dioxide or calcium carbonate; no cadmium or lead has been reported in Fold-Pak food containers. Industry standards for food-contact paperboard generally exclude heavy metal pigments.
Source, FDA ↗Microplastics
Paperboard recycling is a closed-loop fiber process and does not introduce microplastics as a known hazard. Plastic-coated paperboard may shed fragments if severely damaged, but this is not a primary concern for intact containers.
Source, EPA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Fold-Pak is a major supplier of food-service disposables (clamshells, takeout boxes, containers) with no published statement on PFAS use or elimination in their water-resistant coatings. The brand has not pursued third-party certification (such as STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX or GreenGuard) that would commit to coating transparency. No recalls or formal safety violations are on record for this product line.
How it compares in its category
Paperboard takeout boxes with water-resistant coatings are the industry standard; alternatives include uncoated paperboard (poor grease barrier, limited lifespan), plastic clamshells (separate microplastic and BPA concerns), and coated kraft (similar PFAS exposure profile). Fold-Pak's 16 oz white box is a typical mid-market offering without distinguishing safety features. Competitors like World Centric (PFAS-free coating available) and some regional suppliers offer disclosed formulations, making direct comparison possible.
If you buy it
Use for room-temperature or warm (not hot) takeout; avoid prolonged contact with fatty or acidic foods at elevated temperatures, as coating degradation and potential migration increase with heat and oil. Do not microwave; the coating may degrade and migrate into food. Replace immediately if interior coating shows peeling, discoloration, or visible wear. Store dry and use within 12-18 months of purchase; humidity and age may compromise the water-resistant layer.
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
- 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 White Chinese Take-Out Box with Handle 16WHWHITEM?
- 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.