LEM · Deli Meat & Cold Cuts Packaging
LEM Freezer Paper
Freezer paper likely has water/grease treatment; PFAS risk unclear without disclosure.
LEM doesn't publicly disclose this freezer paper's coating chemistry. Grease-resistant food packaging often contains PFAS, but no confirmation is available for LEM.
The better-graded swap
LEM
LEM 15" Freezer Paper Cutter
80/100 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
paper with grease-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What LEM Freezer Paper is made of, ingredients and materials
LEM freezer paper is kraft paper laminated with a grease-resistant plastic or wax coating on one side, designed to prevent freezer burn and moisture loss during storage. The coating's exact composition is not disclosed by LEM; freezer papers typically use either polyethylene, wax, or treated compounds to repel water and fats. Because the coating sits directly against food, any leachable components or treatment chemicals (particularly water-and-grease-resistant agents) can migrate into fatty or acidic foods over time, especially if paper is creased, torn, or heated.
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.
Grease-resistant coating leaching (unidentified chemistry)
LEM does not disclose whether the coating is PFAS-based, paraffin, or fluorocarbon-free. Coatings designed to repel water and grease are historically the primary source of PFAS in food-contact papers; leaching risk is highest with fatty foods and prolonged contact.
Adhesive or coating degradation over time
Freezer conditions (repeated thaw cycles, moisture, temperature swings) can weaken the lamination bond; degraded coating may shed into food or lose grease-resistance, allowing freezer burn and potential contamination from packaging materials.
Lack of food-contact certification
LEM freezer paper carries no visible FDA, NSF, or third-party food-contact certification on packaging. Absence of certification does not confirm unsafety but indicates the product is not formally validated for direct food contact.
What’s reassuring
Microplastic shedding from lamination
No documented cases of plastic coating flaking from LEM freezer paper into food. Risk is low with intact paper, but creasing or handling may compromise lamination; visual inspection can detect peeling.
Chlorine or bleach residue in pulp
LEM has not disclosed pulp sourcing or bleaching method. Chlorine-bleached kraft paper poses minimal food-contact risk under normal freezing conditions, but unbleached or oxygen-bleached alternatives exist if chlorine exposure is a concern.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
LEM is a meat-processing equipment and supplies manufacturer; they have not published transparency statements about freezer paper coating chemistry, PFAS content, or food-contact safety certifications on public record. No recalls specific to LEM freezer paper for chemical contamination appear in FDA or CPSC databases. The company's silence on coating treatment is the primary red flag, as responsible manufacturers of food-contact papers typically disclose whether their grease barriers are PFAS-based, fluorocarbon-free, or paraffin-derived.
How it compares in its category
Freezer paper is a niche product; most direct competitors (Ninth Life, If You Care, butcher-grade rolls) also lack full disclosure on coating chemistry, though some market themselves as PFAS-free or paraffin-coated. Standard alternatives like aluminum foil, vacuum-seal bags, or wax paper avoid the coating ambiguity altogether but sacrifice some freezer-burn prevention. LEM's product is mid-range in transparency compared to specialty brands but offers no advantage in safety documentation.
If you buy it
Avoid prolonged contact with fatty meats or acidic foods; wrap items in the paper and seal in an airtight freezer bag as a second barrier to minimize any coating leaching. Do not use LEM freezer paper for oven reheating or direct contact with hot food, as heat may accelerate leaching from an unknown coating. Replace paper if creased, torn, or visibly degraded; purchase fresh rolls every 1-2 years. Consider requesting LEM's Certificate of Analysis or coating specifications before bulk purchasing for a meat business.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- LEM has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to LEM Freezer Paper?
IDL Packaging
White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
- natural kraft butcher paper, no coating specified
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Bleach residue and chlorine compounds
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- stainless steel blade, bare metal construction
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Blade degradation and metal particle shedding
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- kraft paper, unbleached cellulose
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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.