Quaker Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes
Lower concern; no evidence of PFAS in product or packaging.
Rice cakes are uncoated grain. Quaker does not disclose packaging treatments. Standard paperboard packaging carries low but unverified PFAS risk; grease-resistant coatings sometimes contain PFAS.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
puffed rice cakes in paperboard packaging
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Quaker Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes is made of, ingredients and materials
Quaker Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes are puffed rice kernels with butter flavoring and salt, packaged in paperboard. The rice is milled grain with minimal processing; butter flavoring is typically a blend of dairy derivatives and natural flavors. Paperboard packaging is cellulose-based with minimal chemical treatment in standard food-grade formulations. This material class carries no documented risk of leaching heavy metals, BPA, or phthalates into the product.
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.
Mold or bacterial growth in packaging
Paperboard is hygroscopic and can absorb moisture if stored in humid environments, creating conditions for mold or microbial growth. This is a storage and handling issue, not a manufacturing defect, but end-user care is required to prevent post-purchase contamination.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Paperboard coating or bleach residues
Food-grade paperboard for dry snacks typically uses minimal coating. No recalls or contamination reports exist for Quaker rice cake packaging. Chlorine-based bleaching in pulp is a standard industry practice but post-consumer migration into dry foods is not established as a concern.
Ink or adhesive leaching from packaging printing
Packaging inks on food-contact surfaces must comply with FDA regulations (21 CFR 176.170). No specific safety data breach or migration incident is on record for this product. Risk is minimal for dry, low-fat foods with short shelf life in cardboard.
Microplastics
Rice cakes are whole-grain puffed products with no plastic processing or storage step that would introduce microplastics. Paperboard packaging is cellulose, not plastic. No microplastic contamination is documented in rice-based snacks.
Source, EPA ↗Allergen cross-contact via shared packaging equipment
Quaker facilities may process tree nuts, sesame, or soy on other product lines. Packaging itself does not introduce allergens, but label disclosure of shared equipment is standard. Check the package label for allergen warnings if relevant to household needs.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Quaker (PepsiCo subsidiary) does not publicly disclose detailed packaging material safety data or third-party certifications for this specific product line. The brand has faced historical scrutiny over pesticide residues in oat products (unrelated to rice cakes) and has settled claims but maintains compliance with FDA limits. No product recalls or safety warnings are on record for Quaker Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes packaging or formulation.
How it compares in its category
Rice cake packaging is simpler than plastic-lined snack bags, which may contain migration-prone polymers or adhesives. Paperboard alone is a lower-concern substrate compared to plastic films or laminates that could degrade under heat or moisture. Among puffed grain snacks, rice cakes typically carry the least packaging complexity, though competitors vary widely in material disclosure and PFAS testing.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture absorption into the paperboard, which could degrade structural integrity or introduce mold risk. Paperboard does not require special handling or replacement schedules. Check packaging for punctures or moisture damage before consumption. Once opened, transfer to an airtight container if not consumed within a few days to maintain crispness and prevent staling.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Quaker has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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.