Newman's Own · Microwave Popcorn
Newman's Own Microwave Popcorn, Butter
Microwave popcorn bags often use PFAS-based grease barriers. Unknown here.
Microwave popcorn bags typically contain grease-resistant coatings that may include PFAS. Newman's Own does not disclose coating chemistry, making risk assessment difficult without lab testing.
The better-graded swap
Trader Joe's
2 Packs Trader Joe's Synergistically Seasoned Popcorn 5.5 Oz Each Pack
70/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Good.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
paper bag with grease-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Newman's Own Microwave Popcorn, Butter is made of, ingredients and materials
Newman's Own Microwave Popcorn comes in a paper bag with a grease-resistant interior coating designed to contain oils and prevent bag degradation during heating. This coating is almost certainly fluorinated (PFAS-based), as it is standard in the microwave popcorn category for water and grease repellency. The bag is not intended for direct food contact; popcorn sits inside a paper chamber, but the coating's proximity to heating means potential migration is a concern with any temperature spike.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
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.
PFAS
Microwave popcorn bags universally use fluorinated coatings for grease repellency. Newman's Own does not disclose composition or PFAS status, and no independent testing of this specific product has been published in accessible sources. Migration risk increases with microwave heat, especially if bag overheats.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastics
If the polymeric coating degrades during heating or handling, microscopic particles could theoretically be ingested with popcorn. This is not a documented safety failure for this brand but is a theoretical concern with all coated bag systems under thermal stress.
Source, EPA ↗Unidentified additives in synthetic coating
Newman's Own has not published the full chemical formulation of the bag liner. Beyond the primary PFAS coating, flame retardants, plasticizers, or other performance chemicals may be present. Without ingredient disclosure, complete hazard assessment is not possible.
What’s reassuring
Mineral oil or recycled paper contaminants
No recalls or warnings specific to Newman's Own popcorn bags for mineral oil migration or post-consumer recycled fiber contamination have been reported. However, the company does not certify bag material sourcing or testing.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Newman's Own does not publicly disclose the specific composition of bag liners or state a formal PFAS reduction policy, despite the company's stated commitment to sustainability. The brand has no known recalls related to popcorn bag coatings. Newman's Own is privately held and owned by Newman's Own Foundation, which directs profits to charity, but this does not extend to transparency on food packaging chemicals.
How it compares in its category
Most microwave popcorn bags use PFAS coatings; Newman's Own is not an outlier. Brands explicitly committed to PFAS-free packaging (such as some organic or premium alternatives) exist but are less common and typically cost more. Standard microwave popcorn, regardless of brand, poses similar coating concerns. Stovetop or air-popped alternatives eliminate the coated-bag variable entirely.
If you buy it
Follow package microwave instructions precisely; overheating increases coating breakdown risk. Do not place the bag directly on the microwave floor or allow edges to touch heating elements. Use a microwave-safe bowl as a barrier if concerned. Store bags in a cool, dry place away from heat and sunlight. If bags show visible wear, grease staining, or odor changes, discard unused stock.
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
- Newman's Own has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Newman's Own Microwave Popcorn, Butter?
- puffed rice cakes in paperboard packaging
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Mold or bacterial growth in packaging
- paperboard popcorn bag, grease-resistant interior lining
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Moisture and mold risk if bag is compromised
- paper-based food packaging with standard coating
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Ink migration (printing on exterior or interior)
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More microwave popcorn 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.