LEM · Deli Meat & Cold Cuts Packaging
LEM Freezer Sheets
Freezer sheets likely use aqueous/silicone coating; coating source unclear.
LEM does not disclose freezer sheet material or surface treatment. Water-resistant food packaging commonly uses fluorinated coatings, but LEM provides no specification.
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
bleached paper or cellulose-based sheet with water/grease resistance 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
Aqueous or silicone coatings may migrate minimally into fatty foods (oils, butter, fatty meats) at standard freezer temperatures; freezing inhibits this risk compared to ambient storage, and migration levels below food safety thresholds are expected but unconfirmed for this brand.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Bleach residue in paper
Modern food-grade bleached paper uses chlorine dioxide or hydrogen peroxide; elemental chlorine is not permitted in US food-contact applications. No residual contamination has been reported for LEM or comparable freezer sheet products.
Microplastic shedding
Cellulose-based paper does not shed microplastics; coating particles may theoretically flake if severely damaged, but risk is negligible in normal freezer use and not reported in literature.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Formaldehyde resins are not typical in freezer sheet coatings; aqueous and silicone systems do not require them. No evidence of this hazard in paper food-contact products of this type.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Approved bleaching and coating chemistries for food contact do not introduce lead, cadmium, or arsenic. No recalls or contamination reports exist for LEM freezer sheets.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
LEM Freezer Sheets are bleached cellulose-based paper stock treated with a water and grease-resistant coating to prevent moisture transfer and food seepage in freezer storage. The coating is likely either aqueous polymer-based or silicone; neither introduces acute toxicity at freezer temperatures, but the specific formulation and presence of fluorinated compounds (PFAS) remains undisclosed by LEM. Bleached paper itself carries minimal risk if the bleaching process uses chlorine dioxide rather than elemental chlorine, which is standard in food-contact applications.
The brand's record and disclosure
LEM Products (meat grinder and food processing brand) has not publicly disclosed detailed ingredient composition or coating chemistry for its freezer sheets, nor has it published PFAS testing or avoidance statements. No recalls or safety controversies are on record for this specific product line. The brand's silence on fluorinated coatings is typical of many small food-packaging manufacturers but represents a gap in consumer transparency compared to major competitors.
How it compares in its category
Freezer paper alternatives include parchment paper (silicone-coated, often reported as PFAS-free by manufacturers but more expensive), butcher paper (uncoated, lower water resistance), and plastic wrap (polyethylene, not a material linked to PFAS but less freezer-durable). LEM sheets occupy a mid-market position, cheaper than premium parchment, more effective than plain kraft paper, and lacking explicit PFAS certification that newer eco-branded competitors now provide. No independent testing of LEM sheets has been published.
If you buy it
Store rolls in cool, dry conditions away from heat sources; the coating remains stable below freezing and presents no fume risk. Use for wrapping raw and cooked foods; do not place directly over flame or high heat (above 200°F). Replace rolls if coating visibly cracks or peels, or every 1-2 years with regular use. Contact LEM directly to request PFAS testing results or product safety data sheet if you have specific sensitivity concerns.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% 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.
Better-graded alternatives in Deli Meat & Cold Cuts Packaging
IDL Packaging
White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
natural kraft butcher paper, no coating specified
Bleach residue and chlorine compounds
Limited concern
Mold or microbial contamination in storage
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
LEM
15" Freezer Paper Cutter
stainless steel blade, bare metal construction
Blade degradation and metal particle shedding
Limited concern
Food residue entrapment in joints
Limited concern
Lower concern. Bare metal tool with no coatings identified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
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.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
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.