Pactiv Evergreen · Disposable Food Containers
Pactiv 1 Pint Clear Vented Clamshell Food Container
Uncertain risk. Grease-resistant coating undisclosed; monitor for updates.
Pactiv doesn't disclose PFAS status or coating chemistry for this grease-resistant container. Clear plastic with grease barriers often contains PFAS.
The better-graded swap
Eco-Products
Eco-Products Compostable Clear Clamshell Hinged Food
100/100 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
clear plastic clamshell, likely polystyrene or PET with grease-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Pactiv 1 Pint Clear Vented Food Container is made of, ingredients and materials
Pactiv's 1-pint vented clamshells are typically molded from polystyrene (PS #6) or PET (#1), both approved food-contact plastics in the US. The "grease-resistant" finish likely involves a fluorocarbon or silicone coating to prevent oils from degrading the container. Vented design allows steam escape during cold storage or transport, reducing condensation but also increasing surface area for potential leaching if temperature or mechanical stress compromises the coating.
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.
Microplastics
If clamshell is microwaved or exposed to hot food (above 60C), the grease-resistant coating may flake or degrade, potentially releasing fine plastic particles. Risk is low if container remains cool but increases with repeated thermal stress.
Source, EPA ↗Fluorinated compound leaching from grease-resistant coating
Coating chemistry is undisclosed; if it contains legacy PFOA-era fluorocarbons or newer alternatives (PFPEs), leaching into fatty foods is possible under prolonged contact. Risk is low for brief cold-food contact but not ruled out without independent testing.
What’s reassuring
BPA & bisphenols
FDA-compliant virgin polystyrene and PET resins used in food contact should be BPA-free under current US regulations. No public recalls or testing data indicate BPA presence in Pactiv clamshells, but independent verification is not available.
Source, FDA ↗Phthalates
Polystyrene and PET for food service are not plasticized and do not require phthalates. No evidence of phthalate use in this product class.
Source, ATSDR ↗Odor transfer and polymer off-gassing
Polystyrene is known for retaining food odors and can release styrene monomers if damaged or heated. Risk is minimal for single-use cold-food storage but may be noticeable if reused or exposed to solvents.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Pactiv Evergreen does not publicly disclose material sourcing, coating chemistry, or PFAS testing results for this product line. The company has faced no major food-safety recalls tied to this specific container format. Industry pressure on grease-resistant coatings has grown since 2020, but Pactiv has not issued statements on reformulation; silence suggests either continued use of legacy fluorinated additives or lack of marketing priority around replacement.
How it compares in its category
This clamshell is a cost-competitive baseline product; uncoated polystyrene and PET alternatives exist but are less grease-resistant and prone to oil penetration and discoloration. Compostable fiber clamshells (sugarcane, wood pulp) avoid plastic leaching but sacrifice visibility and durability. Glass or stainless steel containers eliminate polymer risk entirely but are impractical for single-use foodservice. For short-term cold food storage, this product performs at industry standard with no exceptional hazard profile.
If you buy it
Use only for cold or room-temperature foods; do not microwave or fill with hot liquids, as heat can compromise the coating and accelerate any leaching. Inspect for cracks, cloudiness, or coating wear before use. Do not reuse for non-food storage. Vents can harbor food debris, so rinse briefly before recycling. Replace if discolored or stiff (sign of polymer degradation). Lower concern for one-time use in foodservice; repeated home reuse is not recommended.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 52% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Pactiv Evergreen has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Pactiv 1 Pint Clear Vented Clamshell Food Container?
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Compostable Clear Clamshell Hinged Food
- Compostable resin (PLA/PBAT blend, plant-based)
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Thermal degradation and chemical release at use temperatures
- Sugarcane bagasse (compostable fiber)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bleaching agents and residual processing chemicals
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- polypropylene (PP) container, uncoated
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastics
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More disposable food containers 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.