Newman's Own · Microwave Popcorn
Newman's Own Microwave Popcorn Touch of Butter Kosher Made with Whole Grain Popcorn
Microwave popcorn bags often contain PFAS for grease resistance; verify with Newman's Own directly.
Microwave popcorn bags typically use fluorinated coatings to resist grease and heat. Newman's Own has not publicly disclosed PFAS status for this product; contact the brand for confirmation.
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/paperboard popcorn 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 Grain Popcorn is made of, ingredients and materials
Newman's Own microwave popcorn bags are paperboard lined with a grease-resistant coating (likely fluorinated to repel butter oils) and a susceptor (metallicized film) that concentrates microwave heat to pop kernels. The inner lining prevents oil migration into the cardboard but is the same chemical system flagged for PFAS contamination. At typical microwave temperatures (around 400F at the bag surface), risk of coating breakdown or migration is low, but repeated or overheating use can compromise the barrier.
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 bag linings routinely contain fluorinated compounds for water and oil resistance. Migration to food is minimal under normal use but increases with bag damage, overheating, or repeated use. See separate PFAS grade (25/100) for detailed assessment.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating degradation under heat stress
Overheating the bag or using damaged packaging can cause the inner lining to degrade or flake. While a single incident is unlikely to cause harm, fragments in popped kernels are a physical rather than chemical hazard. Proper adherence to microwave instructions minimizes this risk.
Mineral oil or paraffin in susceptor layer
Susceptor films may contain mineral oil or paraffin wax to improve heat distribution. Food contact is designed to be minimal, but migration increases if the susceptor is punctured or the bag overheats. No specific recalls or reports for Newman's Own, but the hazard class is present in the product design.
Microplastic shedding from bag lining
Synthetic polymer linings can shed microscopic fragments if worn, torn, or heavily stressed by heat. Risk is low under normal handling but increases with rough storage, freezing-thawing cycles, or extended shelf life. No specific data on Newman's Own bags, but inherent to the material class.
What’s reassuring
Ink or dye leachables from outer packaging printing
The outer cardboard box uses standard food-grade printing inks. No known issues reported for Newman's Own packaging in this regard, and outer materials do not contact food during normal use.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Newman's Own does not publicly disclose whether their popcorn bag linings use PFAS-based or alternative grease-resistant technologies. The brand has no published commitments to phase out fluorinated coatings in food packaging. Requests for clarification on specific bag chemistry are not routinely answered in public materials. For a brand positioning itself on quality and transparency, this silence on a known industry practice is a notable gap.
How it compares in its category
Microwave popcorn bags across most major brands (including Orville Redenbacher, Act II, Pop Secret) use similar fluorinated or fluorine-containing greaseproof linings; Newman's Own is not an outlier. Popcorn popped on stovetop or in air poppers avoids bag-lined packaging altogether. Bag-free microwave popcorn options are rare and often more expensive, making this product typical rather than exceptionally risky within its niche.
If you buy it
Follow microwave instructions exactly; do not extend cooking time or use high-power settings that could overheat the bag and degrade the lining. Inspect the bag before use for tears or damage that could allow coating particles into food. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct heat or sunlight to prevent premature aging of the lining. If you microwave popcorn frequently (more than once weekly per household member), consider alternating with stovetop or air-popped options to reduce overall PFAS exposure from packaging.
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 Touch of Butter Kosher Made with Whole Grain Popcorn?
- 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.