Hormel · Deli Meat & Cold Cuts Packaging
Hormel Deli Turkey Oven Roasted Double Pack
No public PFAS commitment from Hormel, contact brand for clear answers.
Hormel hasn't stated anything about PFAS in this packaging. Deli meat wraps often use moisture and grease barriers that might contain PFAS, though Hormel doesn't advertise PFAS-free status for this range.
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 and/or laminated paperboard packaging
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
BPA & bisphenols
Adhesives or coatings in the laminated structure may contain trace BPA or phthalates, but direct transfer to the meat surface is unlikely under normal refrigerated storage. No test data is publicly available for this specific product.
Source: FDA ↗Bacterial growth if packaging integrity fails
Punctured, damaged, or improperly stored packaging can allow bacterial contamination of the meat itself, which is a food safety hazard unrelated to packaging chemistry. This is a standard deli meat risk, not unique to Hormel.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Laminated packaging may use formaldehyde-based adhesives, but volatile release into the meat at refrigeration temperature is minimal. No published testing for this product exists.
Source: ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Printed graphics on the exterior may contain trace amounts of lead or cadmium in inks, but the printed surface does not contact the meat directly. Risk is negligible in normal use.
Source: FDA ↗What’s reassuring
Microplastics
Polyethylene or polypropylene film is stable under refrigeration and standard handling. Microplastic shedding is not a documented concern for unopened deli packages kept in normal conditions.
Source: EPA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Hormel Deli Turkey packaging is a laminated structure combining plastic film (likely polyethylene or polypropylene) with paperboard for moisture and oxygen barriers. This dual-layer design protects meat freshness but may contain adhesives or coatings to bond the layers. The plastic component is not your eating surface in normal use; you remove the meat directly. Heat exposure during storage or cooking is minimal under standard refrigeration conditions.
The brand's record and disclosure
Hormel is a major processor but does not publicly disclose detailed packaging material composition or chemical safety testing results. The company has not published commitments to phasing out PFAS in food-contact packaging, nor obtained third-party certifications (e.g., UL Greenguard) for this product line. No major recalls or safety violations specific to this deli turkey packaging are on public record, but the brand's transparency on food-contact chemicals remains limited.
How it compares in its category
Most deli meats arrive in similar laminated plastic-paperboard or all-plastic vacuum-sealed packaging with comparable chemical profiles. Hormel is not positioned as a premium, minimally packaged, or eco-certified alternative; it is a mass-market conventional product. Brands explicitly avoiding PFAS or using paper-only packaging are available but rare in this category and often cost more.
If you buy it
Store unopened packages in the refrigerator below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and consume within the use-by date to prevent bacterial growth and potential food safety issues. Do not microwave the product in its original packaging; transfer to a plate or container first to avoid any heating of plastic film. Once opened, keep meat sealed or wrapped tightly and discard within 3 to 5 days. The packaging itself is not intended for reuse, so recycle or dispose of per local guidelines.
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.