32 oz Square Paper Food Pail with Handle
Skip until coating details disclosed; paper pails often use PFAS-based water barriers.
Fold-Pak does not disclose the water-resistant coating composition. Paper food pails commonly use PFAS-based treatments for grease and moisture barriers. Verify coating type with manufacturer before purchase.
The better-graded swap
Eco-Products
Eco-Products WorldView Sugarcane Take-Out Containers
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
Paper with water-resistant coating, unspecified
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What 32 oz Square Paper Food Pail with Handle is made of, ingredients and materials
This product is paper pulp (likely kraft or recycled stock) with an applied water-resistant coating of undisclosed chemistry. The coating is critical, paper alone absorbs moisture and fails structurally for wet or oily foods. Water-resistant coatings in food pails commonly use either PFAS-based Teflon-family coating (for durability) or non-fluorinated alternatives like polyethylene laminate or wax blends. Fold-Pak has not publicly specified which approach this pail uses, leaving the coating identity opaque.
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.
Water-resistant coating composition (unspecified chemistry)
Coating identity unknown; PFAS-based Teflon-family coating are common in this product class but not confirmed for this SKU. Lack of brand disclosure prevents hazard ranking; request material safety data from Fold-Pak before assuming non-PFAS.
Coating degradation and leaching over time or under heat
Repeated washing, hot water contact, or prolonged contact with acidic or fatty foods can wear or crack the coating, allowing paper fibers and any coating residues to migrate into food. No published durability or migration testing for this specific product is on record.
Mold or bacterial growth (maintenance and storage)
Paper pails absorb moisture at edges and seams if stored in humid conditions or after washing. This can harbor mold or bacterial biofilm independent of the food stored in them. Ensure the pail is fully dried before storage and kept in a dry environment.
What’s reassuring
Microplastics
Paper pails do not inherently shed microplastics unless the coating is a plastic laminate and degrades. If the coating is polyethylene or another polymer, mechanical wear or heat could theoretically generate particles; no reported incidents for Fold-Pak pails exist on record.
Source, EPA ↗Ink or adhesive residues from printing
If the pail is printed with branding or warnings, food-contact inks and adhesives must meet FDA compliance for migration limits. Fold-Pak's printing practices and ink sourcing are not publicly detailed; assume standard industry compliance unless stated otherwise.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Fold-Pak is a Huhtamaki subsidiary specializing in disposable foodservice packaging. The brand has not published material safety data sheets, coating composition, or PFAS-free commitments for this product line. Industry-wide, paper foodservice pails remain a category where PFAS disclosure lags behind regulatory pressure. Without a public statement or third-party certification, the coating composition cannot be verified as PFAS-free or low-PFAS.
How it compares in its category
Paper pails with unspecified coatings occupy a middle ground, they avoid rigid plastic leaching and metal corrosion concerns, but introduce coating uncertainty that plastic or metal alternatives can clarify. Competitors using certified non-PFAS barriers (e.g., polyethylene-lined paper or labeled PFOA-free) or switching to aluminum cans or polypropylene tubs offer transparency advantages. For short-term, ambient-temperature storage, this pail performs adequately; for high-heat, long-contact, or repeated use scenarios, coating stability and composition become material concerns.
If you buy it
Use this pail for room-temperature, short-term food storage only (sauces, prepared meals, oils in original transit). Do not microwave, oven-heat, or store hot foods directly; allow food to cool before packing. Do not soak or submerge in hot water repeatedly, as this can degrade the water-resistant coating and increase leaching risk. Replace if the interior shows peeling, discoloration, or odor changes, which indicate coating breakdown.
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 32 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.