Hardin Simmons · Grease-Resistant Butcher Paper
Jack Richeson Butcher Paper Foot Roll
Grease-resistant coating likely present. PFAS risk unknown without disclosure.
Jack Richeson butcher paper uses a grease-resistant coating that may contain PFAS. The brand provides no ingredient information or test results.
The safe swap
Hardin Simmons
Durable Packaging White Butcher Paper Roll
70/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Good.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Paper with grease-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent treatments have historically contained PFAS chemicals.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
PFAS
Grease-resistant coating chemistry is undisclosed. If fluorochemical-based, PFAS can leach into fatty foods or oily residues; risk is highest with warm or greasy contact. No independent testing of this specific product is on record.
Source: ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and particle release
Over time, grease-resistant coatings can flake, crack, or degrade, especially if rolled tightly or stored in heat. Microscopic coating particles may contaminate food if the paper is visibly damaged or worn.
Mineral oil or silicone transfer (if silicone-coated)
If the coating is silicone or mineral-oil based rather than PFAS, these substances can still migrate to fatty foods; food-contact approval is typically required, and undisclosed composition raises questions about compliance.
What’s reassuring
Ink or printing residues (if printed)
Jack Richeson butcher paper rolls are typically unprinted on food-contact surfaces, so this is a low concern. If any text or branding is printed on the food-facing side, verify food-grade ink certification.
Microbial contamination from storage
Paper itself does not harbor bacteria or mold risk under normal dry storage. Risk is only present if the roll becomes wet, moist, or stored in temperatures above 75F for extended periods.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Jack Richeson butcher paper is cellulose paper with a grease-resistant coating applied to the surface, standard for food wrapping. The coating is the critical unknown: manufacturers typically use either silicone-based, wax-based, or fluorochemical (PFAS-containing) formulations to repel grease and moisture. Without Hardin Simmons disclosure, the specific chemistry cannot be confirmed. Uncoated or purely wax-coated butcher paper carries minimal chemical risk; fluorochemical coatings introduce PFAS migration potential under heat or direct food contact.
The brand's record and disclosure
Hardin Simmons does not publicly disclose PFAS use, coating chemistry, or third-party certifications (e.g., FDA verification, GOTS, or OEKO-TEX equivalents for food contact materials) based on available information. No product-specific recalls or safety warnings are on record for this roll. The brand's silence on grease-resistant coating composition is typical of smaller regional suppliers but leaves end-users without verification of PFAS-free status. Competitor brands (e.g., Brawny, If You Care) increasingly specify wax or silicone coatings; Hardin Simmons has not made such commitments public.
How it compares in its category
Butcher paper is a food-contact material commodity with high variation in coating chemistry. Premium butcher papers (If You Care, some Brawny lines) explicitly state wax or silicone-only coatings and carry certification; budget or unbranded rolls may rely on fluorochemical coatings without disclosure. Jack Richeson sits in the mid-market range without transparency, making it harder to assess relative safety. For price-conscious users, this product offers standard utility; for PFAS-conscious consumers, lack of certification is a red flag compared to labeled alternatives.
If you buy it
Use this paper for cold food wrapping (cheese, deli meats, dry goods) to minimize coating-to-food transfer risk. Avoid prolonged contact with hot or oily foods; do not use in ovens or for heated storage. Replace the roll every 6-12 months depending on frequency and storage conditions (cool, dry place); degraded paper or visible coating breakdown indicates end of safe service life. If PFAS concern is significant for your household, contact Hardin Simmons directly requesting coating composition disclosure before repeat purchase.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Hardin Simmons has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Grease-Resistant Butcher Paper
Hardin Simmons
Gordon Paper Butcher Paper
kraft paper, bleached sulfate pulp
Fiber shedding and ingestion
Limited concern
Lower concern; uncoated butcher paper has minimal PFAS risk.
⚠Risky category by default
Hardin Simmons
Durable Packaging White Butcher Paper Roll
bleached kraft paper, likely uncoated
Mold or bacterial contamination during storage
Limited concern
Lower concern. Standard paper stock poses minimal PFAS risk.
⚠Risky category by default
Deli King
Butcher Paper King Kraft Paper 36" x 500 ft
Kraft paper, unbleached cellulose
Mold or microbial growth if stored improperly
Limited concern
Migration of degradation byproducts during prolonged contact
Limited concern
Lower concern. Kraft paper is inherently free of PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
More grease-resistant butcher paper 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.