Hardin Simmons · Grease-Resistant Butcher Paper
Traeger BBQ Butcher Paper Roll
Butcher paper likely uses grease-resistant coating; PFAS status unknown.
Coated for water and grease resistance, a common use case for PFAS-based treatments. No public disclosure of coating composition or PFAS status available.
The safe swap
Deli King
Fun Express Kraft Butcher Paper Grazing Tablecloth 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
kraft paper with unspecified water/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 coatings on food-contact papers historically relied on PFAS chemistry. Hardin Simmons has not disclosed whether this product uses fluorinated compounds. Migration into fatty foods (meats) during high-heat smoking is a plausible exposure route if PFAS is present.
Source: ATSDR ↗Non-fluorinated coating leachables (unknown identity)
If the coating is silicone, wax-based, or other non-PFAS chemistry, leaching risk depends on specific formulation and heat exposure. Absence of disclosure prevents assessment of whether coating complies with FDA Title 21 CFR 176 or equivalent food-contact standards.
Thermal decomposition of coating under prolonged high heat
Kraft paper coatings can off-gas or break down at sustained temperatures above 400°F. Smoking (often 225-275°F) is moderate-risk, but extended exposure in high-temperature grills may release volatile organic compounds or unidentified degradation byproducts.
Microplastic or coating particle shedding into food
Worn or degraded coating may shed particles that could transfer to meat or fat during wrapping. No data on this product's coating durability or shelf stability are publicly available. Visual inspection before use is the only consumer-level control.
What’s reassuring
Ink or printing contaminants
If roll is printed with branding or lot numbers, inks must comply with FDA food-contact regulations. No recalls or complaints on record for this product; kraft paper rolls typically use food-grade inks, but manufacturer transparency is absent.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This product is kraft paper (cellulose fibers) with an added water and grease-resistant coating whose composition Hardin Simmons does not publicly disclose. Kraft paper itself is food-safe and widely used in commercial butchering and smoking. The coating's identity matters because it determines leaching risk during high-heat exposure (smoking can exceed 300°F). Without manufacturer transparency on coating type, composition, or compliance standards, users cannot verify whether it contains PFAS, mineral oil, or other persistence compounds.
The brand's record and disclosure
Hardin Simmons maintains minimal public safety documentation for this product. No third-party certifications (NSF, FDA compliance statements, or independent safety audits) are readily available on packaging or official channels. The brand has not published a stance on PFAS avoidance or material sourcing. This silence is notable because competitors in the food-contact paper market increasingly disclose coating chemistries or pursue PFAS-free certifications in response to regulatory pressure and consumer concern.
How it compares in its category
Butcher paper for smoking sits in a niche between commodity food wrap and specialty food-contact materials. Premium alternatives (e.g., some uncoated parchment or paper explicitly labeled PFAS-free) cost more but offer clearer safety profiles. Many commodity butcher papers carry identical unspecified coatings, making this product neither notably transparent nor notably opaque by category standard. Budget options rarely disclose; high-end smoking papers often highlight PFAS-free or fluorine-free claims.
If you buy it
Use only for intended smoking/grilling purposes; do not use in a microwave or prolonged boiling, which may accelerate coating migration. Keep paper away from direct flame and high-temperature contact above 420°F if possible. Replace roll if coating shows visible wear, discoloration, or powdery residue. Contact Hardin Simmons directly to request documentation of coating composition and regulatory compliance before bulk purchases.
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
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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.