Pactiv Evergreen · Food Packaging
Pactiv Evergreen Blueberry Modular Clamshell
Avoid unless Pactiv discloses coating details. Grease-resistant food packaging commonly uses PFAS.
Pactiv Evergreen blueberry clamshells are polypropylene with grease-resistant treatment and no public PFAS disclosure. Grease-resistant food-contact coatings frequently contain PFAS compounds.
The safe swap
Eco-Products
Eco-Products WorldView Sugarcane Take-Out Containers
95/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
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Material
Polypropylene clamshell with grease-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent treatments have historically contained PFAS chemicals.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Category baseline
food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
PFAS
Fluorinated grease-resistant coatings are standard in food-service clamshells. Pactiv Evergreen has not disclosed whether this product's coating is PFAS-free. Migration risk is low at room temperature but increases with heat, scratching, or acid exposure.
Source: ATSDR ↗Microplastics
As the grease-resistant coating wears or flakes with repeated use and washing, microscopic particles may shed into food. Risk is low if the container is replaced before visible wear, but no independent testing of this specific product is on public record.
Source: EPA ↗Thermal migration at elevated temperatures
While PP resists melting below 160°C (320°F), the coating may not. Microwaving or hot-filling this container could accelerate migration of coating chemicals into food, particularly oils and fatty foods.
What’s reassuring
BPA & bisphenols
Polypropylene does not inherently contain BPA or phthalates. Risk is negligible unless the coating additive package includes plasticizers, which Pactiv has not disclosed.
Source: FDA ↗Acetaldehyde or volatile organic compounds from coating
No public record of off-gassing complaints or testing results specific to this clamshell. Risk is generally low for rigid molded plastic vs. flexibles, but coating chemistry is proprietary and undisclosed.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This clamshell is polypropylene (PP, #5 plastic), a relatively stable polymer that resists most chemical migration at ambient temperatures. The grease-resistant coating applied to the surface is the material of concern. Pactiv Evergreen has not publicly disclosed whether this coating contains PFAS, which are commonly used in food-contact coatings to repel oils and water. Polypropylene itself does not contain BPA, phthalates, or other legacy plasticizers, making it safer than older polycarbonate or PVC alternatives.
The brand's record and disclosure
Pactiv Evergreen is a leading food-service packaging manufacturer owned by Pactiv Evergreen Inc. (formerly part of Waddington). The company has maintained silence on PFAS use in grease-resistant coatings across its portfolio, despite increasing regulatory scrutiny and competitor transparency initiatives. No major recalls specific to this clamshell for chemical contamination are on public record. However, the lack of third-party certification (such as FDA migration testing results or PFAS-free claims) limits independent verification of coating safety.
How it compares in its category
Polypropylene clamshells are among the safer rigid plastic food-contact containers when used for cold storage because PP has high heat resistance but still poses PFAS risk if the coating is fluorinated. Paper-based clamshells (e.g., molded fiber) eliminate synthetic coating concerns entirely but sacrifice grease resistance and durability. Other plastic clamshells (PET/PETE #1, PVC #3) carry higher baseline leaching risks independent of coatings. Pactiv's silence on coating composition puts this product in a middle-ground trust position.
If you buy it
Use this clamshell only for room-temperature and refrigerated storage; do not microwave or place in hot water, as heat can accelerate any coating migration. Replace after 6-12 months of regular use or if the interior surface becomes scratched, faded, or cloudy, signs that the coating is degrading. Do not store acidic foods (berries, citrus, vinegar-based dressings) for extended periods, as acidity may weaken coating adhesion. Rinse before first use and hand-wash gently rather than agitating in a dishwasher to minimize coating wear.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% 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.
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More food packaging 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.