Big Green Egg · Grease-Resistant Deli & Butcher Paper
Big Green Egg Butcher Paper
Grease-resistant coating source unknown, PFAS risk remains unclear.
Big Green Egg butcher paper gets grease-resistant coating but International Paper discloses no details on chemistry. Traditional grease-resistant food papers often use PFAS-based wax.
The better-graded swap
IDL Packaging
Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
95/100 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
Kraft paper with grease-resistant coating (likely silicone or wax)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Coating leachables (unidentified source)
The grease-resistant coating is not disclosed as silicone, wax, or fluorinated; contact with fatty foods (especially at moderate heat) could mobilize coating compounds. No published migration studies on this specific product.
Microparticles from coating degradation
Repeated use, creasing, or heat exposure may cause the coating to flake or shed particles into food. Risk is low if coating remains visibly intact but increases if paper is creased or torn during use.
Mold or bacterial growth if stored damp
Paper itself can support mold growth if exposed to moisture. Storage in humid conditions increases risk; grease coating may slow but not prevent microbial colonization if water ingress occurs.
What’s reassuring
Chlorine residues (if bleached)
Product marketing suggests unbleached kraft, which typically avoids chlorine bleaching. No public evidence of chlorine treatment, but material specification is not confirmed.
Ink or printing chemicals
Big Green Egg butcher paper appears to have minimal printing; no reported ink migration issues specific to this product line.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Big Green Egg Butcher Paper is kraft paper (cellulose fiber) with a grease-resistant surface coating designed to prevent meat juices and fat from soaking through during storage and smoking. The coating composition is not publicly disclosed by International Paper or Big Green Egg; grease resistance in butcher paper is typically achieved via silicone, wax, or fluorinated compounds (PFAS-based). The unconfirmed coating chemistry creates uncertainty about potential leachables into fatty foods, which are known to absorb hydrophobic chemicals more readily than others.
The brand's record and disclosure
International Paper has not published detailed material safety data or PFAS declarations specific to this product. The company has faced pressure on PFAS use in food-contact papers across its portfolio but has not issued a public commitment to eliminate fluorinated coatings in butcher paper. Big Green Egg markets this as food-safe without independent third-party certification (e.g., NSF, FDA formal approval). Absence of transparency on coating chemistry is the primary disclosure weakness.
How it compares in its category
Butcher paper with unconfirmed coating sits midway in safety clarity compared to market alternatives. Unbleached kraft papers without grease resistance avoid coating unknowns but sacrifice functional performance. Certified butcher papers (less common) or those using disclosed wax-only coatings offer higher assurance. Big Green Egg's product offers convenience and durability but lacks the transparency of smaller suppliers who explicitly state silicone or beeswax composition.
If you buy it
Use for short-term food storage (hours to days) rather than prolonged contact with fatty meats. Avoid direct contact with open flame or temperatures above 420F (coating integrity risk). Do not reuse if coating shows tears, peeling, or discoloration, as degradation may release particles or increase leaching. Store rolls in cool, dry conditions away from oils and solvents. If PFAS concern motivates purchase reconsideration, request product specification sheet from retailer or manufacturer.
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
- Big Green Egg has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Grease-Resistant Deli & Butcher Paper
IDL Packaging
White Butcher Paper 18" x Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
bleached paper, uncoated
Mold or microbial growth during storage
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
IDL Packaging
White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
bleached kraft paper, no specified coating
Ink or printing residue (if printed side contacts food)
Limited concern
Mold or microbial growth during storage
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
If You Care
Parchment Baking Sheets
unbleached parchment paper, silicone coating
Silicone coating degradation under heat stress
Limited concern
Mold or microbial growth if stored damp
Limited concern
Brand no-added-PFAS claim and a 2021 lab result with no fluorine detected.
✓Lab test found no PFAS
More grease-resistant deli & 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.