Hormel · Deli Meat & Cold Cuts Packaging
Hormel Deli Honey Ham
Skip or limit exposure, grease-resistant deli packaging typically contains PFAS.
Hormel Deli Honey Ham comes wrapped to resist grease and moisture. Grease-blocking coatings frequently contain PFAS, yet Hormel makes no public statement about PFAS use or avoidance.
The safe swap
Oscar Mayer
Oscar Mayer Smoked Ham & Turkey Sub Kit
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
plastic film packaging 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 deli packaging almost universally contains PFAS (per FDA and peer literature on fluorinated coatings). Hormel has not publicly confirmed or denied this for this product; exposure risk is direct contact with meat over storage period.
Source: ATSDR ↗Plastic film degradation and migration
Polyethylene and polypropylene film can release oligomers or additives (such as slip agents or antioxidants) under prolonged storage or if exposed to heat, light, or acidic conditions from the meat itself. No specific recalls or reports for Hormel's deli ham packaging, but risk is inherent to plastic film contact.
Sodium nitrite/nitrate as curing agent
Deli ham is cured with sodium nitrite or sodium nitrate, a health concern unrelated to packaging. This is a known ingredient in the product itself, not a packaging hazard, but relevant to overall food safety assessment of this product class.
Bacterial contamination risk from packaging breaches
If packaging film is punctured, torn, or degraded in transit or storage, the meat is exposed to airborne pathogens. This is not a chemical hazard but a food-safety risk; inspect packaging for integrity before purchase and storage.
What’s reassuring
BPA & bisphenols
No evidence that Hormel uses BPA or BPS-containing polycarbonate or epoxy resins in deli ham film packaging. Modern deli films are typically polyethylene or polypropylene, which do not require BPA. However, not explicitly certified BPA-free by the brand.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Hormel Deli Honey Ham arrives in plastic film packaging with a grease-resistant coating, most likely containing fluorinated compounds (PFAS) to repel moisture and fat. This coating sits directly against the meat surface. The plastic substrate itself is typically polyethylene or polypropylene, materials generally stable at room temperature but which can degrade if exposed to heat or solvents. The grease-resistant layer is the primary chemical concern; it exists to keep packaging from becoming saturated with meat oils but introduces persistent chemicals into the food-contact zone.
The brand's record and disclosure
Hormel has not publicly disclosed PFAS use in its deli meat packaging or committed to PFAS reduction timelines. The company has no known third-party certifications (such as NSF/ANSI for packaging or formal PFAS-free claims) for this product line. Hormel's parent-company sustainability communications do not single out fluorinated coatings in food packaging as a priority. This silence, combined with the grease-resistant coating standard in the category, suggests PFAS presence is likely but unconfirmed by the brand.
How it compares in its category
Most major deli meat brands (Boar's Head, Oscar Mayer, Sara Lee) use similar grease-resistant film packaging with likely PFAS content. Few cold-cut manufacturers have switched to PFAS-free alternatives at scale. Hormel's position is typical for the category rather than worse; however, no major competitor has made a transparent commitment to PFAS-free deli packaging. If PFAS exposure from packaging is a concern, switching brands within deli meats offers little advantage without specific manufacturer certification.
If you buy it
Transfer the ham to a glass or ceramic container if storing longer than 3-5 days; this reduces contact time with the PFAS-coated film. Do not heat the product in its original packaging (microwave or oven), as heat may increase PFAS migration into the meat. Keep packaging away from hot surfaces and do not freeze in the original film if you plan to reuse the packaging. Consume within the expiration date and discard packaging immediately after opening to minimize cumulative exposure.
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
- Hormel has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Deli Meat & Cold Cuts Packaging
Oscar Mayer
Smoked Ham & Turkey Sub Kit
plastic film wrapper; likely PE or PP film
Plastic film leaching under heating
Limited concern
Pathogenic bacterial growth if seal compromised
Moderate concern
Lower concern for food item, but packaging PFAS risk is modest and not ruled out.
⚠Risky category by default
Boar's Head
Charcuterie & Cheese Tray
food (charcuterie, cheese); cardboard/plastic tray substrate
Microplastics
Limited concern
Mold or bacterial growth on packaging (if dampness occurs)
Limited concern
Chemical preservatives in the meat itself (not packaging)
Moderate concern
Low concern for PFAS in the food itself, though tray coating unknown.
⚠Risky category by default
Boar's Head
Charcuterie & Cheese
plastic film (vacuum-sealed package)
PFAS
Limited concern
Listeria and bacterial contamination
Moderate concern
Sodium nitrite residues in meat (food additive, not material)
Limited concern
Lower concern for the product, but packaging coating PFAS content unverified.
⚠Risky category by default
More deli meat & cold cuts 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.