Quaker Crispy Minis Butter Popcorn 100g/3.5 oz
Low confidence; popcorn pouches often contain grease-resistant coatings.
Quaker does not disclose PFAS use in packaging. Popcorn packaging typically includes grease barriers that may contain PFAS, but no lab data or brand claim available for this product.
The better-graded swap
Quaker
Quaker Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes
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
paperboard pouch with grease-resistant barrier
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Quaker Crispy Minis Butter Popcorn is made of, ingredients and materials
Quaker Crispy Minis pouches are paperboard laminated with a grease-resistant polymer barrier to prevent oil migration and preserve product freshness. The barrier layer typically contains either polyethylene (PE) or a fluorinated coating; no public disclosure specifies which. Paperboard itself is food-contact low concern when virgin or recycled responsibly, but the barrier composition directly affects migration risk to the snack inside.
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.
PFAS
Popcorn pouches commonly use fluorinated polymers to repel fat; Quaker does not disclose barrier material. If present, PFAS could leach into high-fat product, but exposure via occasional snack consumption is generally considered low risk relative to drinking water or frequent non-stick cookware use.
Source, ATSDR ↗Barrier degradation and product oxidation
Over extended storage (6+ months) or in warm conditions, the barrier may thin or crack, allowing air and moisture ingress. This compromises product freshness and can accelerate rancidity in the fat; no direct food safety risk but quality loss.
What’s reassuring
Mineral oil or other polymer additives
No documented recalls or test results for mineral oil, plasticizers, or print-ink migration in Quaker popcorn pouches. Barrier formulations are proprietary and not subject to mandatory disclosure unless contamination is detected.
Ink or adhesive leaching from external print
Exterior graphics and brand text are applied before lamination and should not contact product. No published incidents for this brand or product type, and regulatory compliance is assumed for food-contact inks used by major manufacturers.
Residual solvent from coating application
Industrial lamination may leave trace solvent residue in the barrier; proper curing removes most, and regulatory limits apply. No evidence of non-compliance for Quaker products, but no third-party testing is available for this specific pouch.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Quaker (PepsiCo subsidiary) does not publicly disclose pouch barrier material or PFAS content in this product line. The company has faced no major documented recalls tied to packaging migration in snack products. PepsiCo committed in 2021 to reduce PFAS in food-contact materials by 2025, but specific timelines and material substitutions for Crispy Minis remain unannounced.
How it compares in its category
Popcorn and snack pouches typically use grease-resistant barriers; uncoated paperboard would fail to contain oil and spoil product faster. Quaker's approach is standard industry practice. Some brands (notably some organic/non-GMO lines) use wax-coated or PE-only barriers as alternatives, though performance and shelf-life trade-offs vary. No comprehensive third-party testing of Quaker pouch barrier leaching into this specific product has been published.
If you buy it
Store unopened pouches in a cool, dry place away from direct heat or sunlight; moisture and heat can degrade the barrier seal over time. Do not heat the pouch itself (e.g., in a microwave or oven). Once opened, transfer remaining product to an airtight container if storage exceeds a few days. Check the pouch for visible punctures, cloudiness, or oil staining before opening, which may indicate barrier failure.
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
- Quaker has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Microwave Popcorn
Quaker
Butter Popcorn Rice Cakes
- puffed rice cakes in paperboard packaging
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Mold or bacterial growth in packaging
Trader Joe's
2 Packs Trader Joe's Synergistically Seasoned Popcorn 5.5 Oz Each Pack
- paperboard popcorn bag, grease-resistant interior lining
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Moisture and mold risk if bag is compromised
Wabash Valley
Farms Sweet
- 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. See all of them.
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.