Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Medium Adult Dry Dog Food, 40 lb
Lower risk for dry pet food packaging; standard paper bag unlikely to require PFAS-based water barriers.
Royal Canin's medium adult dog food ships in a standard kraft paper bag, a conventional material not typically treated with PFAS-based grease or moisture barriers for dry kibble. The brand makes no PFAS claims. While paper bags can contain fluorinated coatings, dry pet food doesn't demand water or grease resistance that triggers PFAS use.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Paper/cardboard bag with standard interior coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Royal Canin Size Health Dry Dog Food, is made of, ingredients and materials
Royal Canin Medium Adult comes in a paper/cardboard exterior bag with a standard interior plastic or wax-based moisture barrier. For dry kibble, this barrier prevents moisture ingress and keeps food shelf-stable without requiring PFAS-based fluorinated coatings (which are more common in grease-barrier applications for wet foods or fatty products). The kibble itself is the primary exposure pathway, not the bag material.
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 from bag damage or moisture
If the bag is torn, punctured, or stored in high humidity, moisture ingress can allow mold or mycotoxin development. This is a physical/storage risk, not inherent to the product.
Oxidation and rancidity of fats in kibble
Dry pet foods contain fats that can oxidize once the bag is opened and exposed to air. The paper bag itself does not prevent this; transfer to sealed containers slows the process.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Moisture barrier coating leachables (wax or plastic-based)
Standard paper bag liners for dry pet food do not intentionally use problematic leachable chemicals; no reported migration of coating into kibble in this product category at normal storage temperatures.
Heavy metals
Royal Canin formulations are not known to have established heavy metal contamination; ingredients are sourced from regulated suppliers. This is a formulation risk, not a packaging hazard.
Source, FDA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Royal Canin (owned by Mars, Inc.) does not publicly disclose detailed PFAS or chemical use policies for pet food packaging. The brand has no major FDA recalls specific to chemical contamination in this dry food product line as of recent records. Mars has faced scrutiny on sustainability and ingredient transparency but not established safety failures for this particular product.
How it compares in its category
Dry pet food bags are lower-risk packaging than wet foods because they do not require grease-resistant coatings with PFAS. Royal Canin's positioning as a premium, veterinarian-backed brand means formulations are generally consistent with AAFCO standards. Comparable brands (Purina Pro Plan, Hill's Science Diet) use similar paper-based packaging with no systematic differences in chemical safety reported.
If you buy it
Store the opened bag in a cool, dry place and transfer kibble to airtight containers after opening to minimize moisture uptake and oxidation. Check the bag for visible damage or tears before purchase; do not use if the interior coating is visibly compromised or if kibble shows signs of mold or rancidity. Follow the printed expiration date; opened bags should be used within 2-3 weeks for optimal freshness.
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
- Royal Canin has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Medium Adult Dry Dog Food, 40 lb?
- Wheat flour, meat by-products, soy lecithin, standard binders and preservatives
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Rancidity and oxidative degradation of fats
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- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Mold and mycotoxin growth
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- grain flour, meat meal, binders, standard dog biscuit
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Rancidity and fat oxidation
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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.