Handy Wacks · Grease-Resistant Deli & Butcher Paper
Handy Wacks Flat Butcher Paper 12 X 12 X 2.5 Inch
Avoid until brand discloses coating composition and PFAS status.
Butcher paper typically uses water and grease-resistant coatings, often PFAS-based. Katom provides no public disclosure of coating chemistry or PFAS testing.
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
Butcher paper, likely kraft 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.
Coating migration (general)
Grease-resistant coatings can migrate into fatty foods, especially at higher temperatures or prolonged contact. Specific risk depends on coating chemistry, which Katom has not disclosed.
PFAS
Fluorinated grease-resistant coatings are common in butcher paper. Katom's lack of disclosure suggests possibility but not certainty. Brand confirmation required.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Ink or dye transfer
Standard food-contact butcher papers use FDA-compliant inks on the exterior surface only. No recalls or reported issues for Katom brand noted.
Microplastic or fiber shedding
Kraft paper does not shed microplastics, though fibers may release if paper is torn or degraded. Standard use presents no established hazard.
Bleach residue or chemical processing
Bleached kraft paper is standard in food service; residual chlorine is regulated and typically well-controlled. No known issues reported for this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Handy Wacks butcher paper is kraft paper, a cellulose product made from wood pulp, typically bleached white or left natural brown. The grease-resistant properties come from an applied coating, most commonly silicone-based, wax-based, or potentially fluorinated (PFAS-containing). The coating's composition directly affects migration risk, inert waxes pose minimal hazard, while fluorinated coatings introduce PFAS exposure when paper contacts fatty foods or is heated.
The brand's record and disclosure
Katom is a food-service supply distributor. No public safety certifications, third-party testing disclosures, or PFAS statements are readily available for this product line. The brand has not voluntarily published coating composition or PFAS-free claims. This silence is typical for commodity suppliers and does not indicate wrongdoing, but it means end-users cannot verify the specific treatment used.
How it compares in its category
Uncoated kraft paper and wax-coated butcher papers have lower concern; fluorinated coatings (PFAS) are common cost-effective alternatives in food-service supply chains but increasingly phased out by premium brands due to health concerns. Katom's silence on coating type suggests standard industry practice, which may or may not include PFAS. Competitors like If You Care disclose fluorine-free coatings; others do not.
If you buy it
Use for dry goods and room-temperature food wrapping with confidence. Limit contact with fatty, oily, or acidic foods if coating type is unknown, as these conditions accelerate migration. Do not heat or bake food wrapped in this paper; transfer to labeled cookware instead. Replace immediately if paper shows visible wear, discoloration, or grease breakthrough. Request product specifications from vendor if coating composition matters for your use case.
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
- Handy Wacks 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.