32 oz White Square Paper Food Pail with Handle
Skip until coating composition is disclosed.
Paper food pails often receive water-resistant coatings to prevent grease and moisture penetration. Fold-Pak does not disclose the coating chemistry, so PFAS risk cannot be ruled out without contacting the brand directly.
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 unspecified water-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What 32 oz White Square Paper Food Pail Handle is made of, ingredients and materials
This product is a paper-based food container with a water-resistant coating applied to the interior and/or exterior. The coating composition is not specified by Fold-Pak in publicly available materials. Water resistance in paper pails typically comes from either PFAS-based repellents (legacy and current industry standard) or non-PFAS alternatives such as wax, silicone, or polyester laminate. Without disclosure, the coating identity cannot be verified. Paper itself does not leach hazardous chemicals under normal cold or room-temperature food storage.
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
The coating composition is not disclosed. Industry default for paper food pails historically relies on PFAS, but non-PFAS alternatives (wax, silicone) are available. Without third-party testing or manufacturer certification, PFAS presence cannot be ruled out. This is graded separately as 'Poor' (25/100); flagged here as a material hazard if coating fails or migrates.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and microparticle shedding
Paper pails experience repeated compression, stacking, and thermal cycling in transport and storage. Over time, the coating may crack, peel, or shed microparticles, especially if stored in humid or fluctuating-temperature conditions. Consumers cannot easily inspect internal surfaces during normal use.
Migration from coating to food at elevated temperature
If used to store or transport hot foods or liquids, or if left in direct sunlight, the coating may soften and release constituents into the food. No public data on this specific product's migration testing are on record; thermal stability of the undisclosed coating is unknown.
Mold or bacterial colonization if wet residue is trapped
Paper absorbs moisture at edges, seams, and handle attachment points. If the pail is not fully dried after washing or is reused without inspection, microbial growth in the paper substrate itself (not just the coating) is possible. This is a hygiene concern rather than a chemical one but is relevant to repeated use scenarios.
What’s reassuring
Contaminants from recycled paper feedstock
Fold-Pak does not publicly disclose whether this pail uses virgin or recycled paper. If recycled content is used without adequate screening, legacy contaminants (inks, printing chemicals, PFAS from prior food-contact use) could persist. No recall or contamination incident is on record for this brand's paper pails.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Fold-Pak, a major supplier of food service packaging, does not publicly disclose coating chemistry or PFAS content for this product line, nor does the brand appear to have issued a formal PFAS elimination commitment. Industry-wide, food-contact paper pails remain a category where PFAS disclosure lags; many manufacturers have not yet separated PFAS and non-PFAS product lines or labeled them accordingly. Absence of third-party certifications (such as GreenSeal, FDA non-PFOA declarations, or chain-of-custody documentation) increases uncertainty.
How it compares in its category
Paper food pails are an intermediate risk in food packaging because coating composition is rarely disclosed at point of sale. Rigid plastic containers (HDPE, PP) typically have lower PFAS exposure if uncoated, but carry their own concerns (BPA, phthalates if PVC or plasticizers are present). Glass or stainless steel alternatives eliminate coating-related hazards entirely but cost more and are heavier. Uncoated cardboard or compostable pails exist but offer less water resistance for liquid or moist foods.
If you buy it
Do not heat food in this pail or expose it to temperatures above 60°C (140°F), as heat can compromise the coating and increase migration risk. Use only for cold or room-temperature foods (salads, dry goods, baked items). Inspect the interior coating before each use for cracks, peeling, or damage; discard the pail if the barrier is visibly compromised. Store dry goods only; prolonged contact with oils or acidic liquids may degrade the coating. Request written disclosure of the water-resistant coating from your supplier before committing to bulk orders.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% 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 White 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.