Orijen Original Dry Cat Food
Lower risk for dry pet food bag unlikely to be a PFAS source, though manufacturer silence is typical.
Orijen Original cat food uses a standard paper sack with lower inherent PFAS risk compared to coated or treated materials. The brand makes no PFAS claims or disclosures about packaging. No public lab data or recalls exist; primary PFAS exposure would come from feed ingredients or water, not the bag.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Paper/kraft sack with ink printing
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Orijen Original Dry Cat Food is made of, ingredients and materials
Orijen Original comes in a kraft paper sack lined with a plastic moisture barrier (typically polyethylene), with offset or flexographic ink printing on the exterior. Kraft paper itself is chemically inert once dried. The interior plastic layer prevents moisture ingress to preserve kibble freshness and is not intended for direct food contact in the way that a plastic food-storage container would be. The ink used in pet food bag printing is food-contact compliant in North America but not subject to the same scrutiny as human food packaging.
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.
Plastic liner degradation and microplastic migration into kibble
The polyethylene moisture barrier can degrade over months if stored in warm or humid conditions, potentially shedding microfibers into the food. Risk is low during normal storage but increases if the bag is punctured, compressed, or exposed to heat above 70°F for extended periods.
Mold or bacterial growth on bag exterior from moisture
Kraft paper absorbs ambient humidity; if stored in damp environments, exterior mold growth is possible, though this does not directly contaminate the food if the interior plastic liner remains intact. This is a storage issue rather than a manufacturing defect.
Recycled paper content and unknown contaminant history
If the kraft sack contains recycled fiber, trace chemicals from prior uses (inks, adhesives, coatings) could theoretically persist. Orijen does not specify whether the bag uses virgin or recycled kraft, which is an industry-wide disclosure gap in pet food packaging.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Lead
Food-contact compliant inks used in pet food bag printing are regulated in North America and heavy metal levels are typically below concern thresholds. No recalls or testing data linking Orijen bag ink to contamination have been published.
Source, ATSDR ↗Adhesives and sealants at bag seams
Bag sealing adhesives are food-contact approved in the pet food supply chain, but detailed composition is proprietary. No specific hazard data for Orijen bags has been documented, and migration into kibble is unlikely given the paper-to-paper nature of the seal.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Orijen (owned by Champion Petfoods, itself owned by Amorepacific Group) has not faced major recalls for chemical contamination of its dry cat food in the past decade according to FDA records. The company does not publicly disclose detailed packaging material sourcing or chemical testing data. No certifications such as BPA-free labeling or third-party packaging audits are advertised, which is typical for the pet food industry but represents a transparency gap.
How it compares in its category
Kraft paper sacks with plastic liners are the standard for premium dry pet foods and represent a middle ground between cost and barrier protection. This is comparable to competitors like Acana, Taste of the Wild, and Primal. Paper-based bags are less of a chemical leaching concern than rigid plastic containers, though they offer less consumer visibility of freshness and are more prone to physical damage during shipping.
If you buy it
Store the unopened bag in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve the kibble and avoid condensation that could weaken the paper sack. Once opened, transfer kibble to an airtight pet food container (stainless steel or rigid plastic) to prevent oxidation and pest access. Do not expose the bag itself to heat or moisture beyond normal humidity. Replace the bag every 2-3 months after opening to maintain nutritional integrity of the food itself.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Orijen has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More pet food bags 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.