PFAS50/ 100Good
Overall42/ 100Poor
Natural Value Waxed Paper

Natural Value · Grease-Resistant Deli & Butcher Paper

Natural Value Waxed Paper

Good

Wax-coated paper likely lower concern, no PFAS disclosure available.

Verdict · SkipWaxed paper shows lower concern than plastic for short-term food contact; no known contaminant recalls, but brand transparency on wax source is absent.

Natural Value waxed paper uses traditional wax coating, typically avoiding PFAS. The brand provides no public PFAS statement, leaving uncertainty about sourcing and processing.

The better-graded swap

Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish

IDL Packaging

Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish

95/100 safety

95Excellent

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 wax coating

Brand disclosure

Brand is silent on PFAS

Lab data

No public lab test

What’s concerning

♾️

Disclosed non-fluorinated coating

Coating is named and is not a fluorochemical (wax, paraffin, mink oil).

90/ 100
♾️

Category baseline

The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.

75/ 100
♾️

No PFAS disclosure

No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.

85/ 100
🍳

Wax coating composition and purity

Paraffin wax (petroleum-derived) or plant-based wax (soy, palm) carry no documented toxicity at food contact, but Natural Value does not disclose wax source or refining standards. Impurities in lower-grade wax are theoretically possible but unconfirmed for this brand.

70/ 100

Heat degradation and wax transfer

Wax coatings soften and may migrate into foods if product is used as an oven liner or in sustained high heat. This is a foreseeable misuse risk rather than a manufacturing defect, but lacks brand warnings on packaging.

70/ 100

What’s reassuring

Paper bleaching agents and residues

Waxed paper may be chlorine-bleached or elemental-chlorine-free; Natural Value does not specify. Chlorine-free paper reduces dioxin formation risk, but no recalls or reported contamination exist for this product. Standard food-grade paper typically meets FDA limits.

95/ 100

Ink or printing residues on package surface

If Natural Value waxed paper is printed with packaging ink, food-contact side inks must comply with FDA regulations; no violations are documented, but brand provides no ink-safety statement.

95/ 100

Microplastic or fiber shedding

Paper does not fragment into microplastics. Loose paper fibers can theoretically transfer to food if the sheet is damaged, but this is a physical contamination issue, not a chemical hazard, and is rare with intact product use.

95/ 100

The full breakdown

What it's made of and why it matters

Natural Value Waxed Paper consists of virgin or recycled paper substrate coated with a thin layer of wax (typically paraffin or soy-based). The wax layer serves as a moisture barrier and grease barrier, allowing the product to contact foods with lower concern for direct paper-to-food migration. Unlike plastic films, paper itself does not leach synthetic polymers, though the wax coating composition and purity are critical to safety. The wax remains stable at room temperature and warm conditions but may soften or transfer if exposed to sustained heat above 180-200°F.

The brand's record and disclosure

Natural Value is a private-label brand sold primarily through food co-ops and natural retailers; public safety disclosures are minimal and no third-party certifications (FSC, chlorine-free, organic, or wax-source verification) are readily documented on packaging or brand websites. The company has not published statements about wax sourcing (paraffin vs. plant-based), bleaching agents in the paper, or PFAS-free status. No major product recalls involving this waxed paper appear in FDA or CPSC databases. The absence of transparency is typical for smaller natural brands but limits independent verification of production standards.

How it compares in its category

Waxed paper presents lower concern for food contact than single-use plastics (which may contain BPA, BPS, or phthalates) and parchment paper (which is often Teflon-type coating-coated or chlorine-bleached). It avoids the microplastics leaching risk of polyethylene films and the heat-stability concerns of compostable plastics. However, it ranks below plastic-free alternatives like glass, stainless steel, or beeswax-cotton wraps for durability and reusability. Natural Value's lack of certifications makes it harder to confirm whether the wax is food-grade quality or the paper is responsibly sourced compared to certified competitor products.

If you buy it

Use waxed paper for room-temperature and warm food storage (sandwiches, baked goods, cheese) and short-term wrapping only; do not use it as oven liners or for foods heated above 180°F, as wax softening and possible transfer may occur. Replace sheets if they tear, show discoloration, or feel tacky, as degraded wax reduces barrier function. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent wax from becoming brittle or greasy. Dispose in compost or recycling according to local guidelines, though some facilities do not accept waxed paper due to wax coating contamination concerns.

What we don’t know

Basis
Model estimate, 65% confidence, not a lab result
Lab test
None on record for this exact product
Brand statement
Natural Value 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

IDL Packaging

White Butcher Paper 18" x Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish

bleached paper, uncoated

PFAS Grade95Excellent
Overall Grade91Excellent
⚠️

Mold or microbial growth during storage

Limited concern

70

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

IDL Packaging

White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish

bleached kraft paper, no specified coating

PFAS Grade95Excellent
Overall Grade87Excellent
⚠️

Ink or printing residue (if printed side contacts food)

Limited concern

70
⚠️

Mold or microbial growth during storage

Limited concern

70

Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.

Starting grade for this product type

If You Care Parchment Baking Sheets

If You Care

Parchment Baking Sheets

unbleached parchment paper, silicone coating

PFAS Grade90Excellent
Overall Grade82Excellent

Silicone coating degradation under heat stress

Limited concern

70
⚠️

Mold or microbial growth if stored damp

Limited concern

70

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.