Karat · Grease-Resistant Butcher & Deli Paper
Karat Deli Paper Sheets
Deli paper coating source unclear; request PFAS test from Karat.
Karat deli sheets use grease-resistant coating but don't disclose the chemical composition. No independent PFAS testing or brand PFAS claims found; contact manufacturer for details.
The better-graded swap
IDL Packaging
Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" 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
bleached paper with grease-resistant coating
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.
PFAS
Deli paper coatings commonly use fluorinated compounds for water and grease resistance; Karat has not publicly confirmed or denied PFAS in this product line, placing it in a high-uncertainty zone for this known hazard class.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and migration under heat
Bleached paper coatings can degrade if exposed to high heat or prolonged moisture, potentially releasing coating particles or compounds into food. Use presents lower concern for room-temperature and brief warm food contact but higher concern for hot oil or oven-direct applications.
Microplastic or coating particle shedding
Aged, damaged, or heat-exposed coatings on food-contact paper can shed microscopic particles into food. Risk is low for intact sheets used at appropriate temperatures but increases with storage time or misuse.
What’s reassuring
Bleach residues in paper substrate
Commercially bleached kraft paper used in food service is processed to remove excess bleach and meets FDA food-contact standards. No established recalls or documented contamination of Karat deli paper from bleach residues are on record.
Heavy metals
No recalls or known contamination of Karat deli paper with heavy metals or hazardous pigments are documented. Standard food-service coatings do not intentionally contain these, but independent testing would be required to confirm absence.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Karat Deli Paper Sheets are bleached kraft paper with a grease-resistant coating applied to the surface. The coating enables the paper to resist oils and moisture from food without soaking through, a critical function for deli and bakery use. The concern centers on what chemical is used for that grease resistance, modern deli papers often rely on fluorinated compounds (PFAS) or non-fluorinated alternatives like silicone or wax-based systems. Bleached paper itself carries minimal risk if sourced from reputable mills, but the coating composition is the unknown variable here.
The brand's record and disclosure
Karat (owned by Footprint) is a food-service packaging manufacturer with a general sustainability focus, but public disclosure of PFAS use or testing in their deli paper line is not established in available sources. The brand has not published third-party testing results or a public statement confirming PFAS-free or PFAS-containing status for this product. This silence is significant in a category where PFAS disclosure has become an industry standard expectation following FDA and state regulatory scrutiny. Without direct confirmation from Karat, the coating source remains unverified.
How it compares in its category
Most conventional bleached deli papers on the market still contain PFAS-based coatings; however, a growing number of competitors (including some Footprint lines) now offer certified PFAS-free alternatives using silicone or bio-based coatings. Karat's position in this transition is unclear. Non-bleached kraft papers without grease-resistant coating are available but lack the performance for oily foods, making them unsuitable for the intended use. If Karat Deli Paper is confirmed PFAS-free, it would be competitive; without confirmation, it sits in the uncertain middle.
If you buy it
Do not heat or microwave these sheets beyond brief warming of room-temperature or warm (not hot) deli foods, as heat can accelerate coating degradation and potential leaching. Store in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight to extend shelf life and minimize coating breakdown. Contact Karat directly (via their website or customer service) to request a Certificate of Analysis or specification sheet confirming the grease-resistant coating chemistry and PFAS status before committing to bulk orders. For high-volume or commercial use, this verification step is strongly recommended given regulatory and health focus on food-contact PFAS.
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
- Karat has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Grease-Resistant Butcher & Deli Paper
IDL Packaging
White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
unbleached natural kraft paper
Mold or microbial growth
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Gordon Paper
Butcher Paper
kraft paper, bleached sulfate pulp
Fiber shedding and ingestion
Limited concern
Lower concern; uncoated butcher paper has minimal PFAS risk.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
36" - Unbleached Butcher Paper Rolls - 1/Roll
unbleached kraft paper, no disclosed coating
Mold or bacterial growth on stored rolls
Limited concern
Fiber shedding into fatty foods
Limited concern
Lower risk due to lack of grease-resistant treatment.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
More grease-resistant butcher & deli 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.