Schwartz Brothers · Grease-Resistant Butcher & Deli Paper
Butcher Packaging Paper
Avoid until brand discloses coating chemistry and testing results.
Schwartz Brothers' butcher paper typically features grease-resistant coatings that may contain PFAS. The brand provides no public disclosure of coating type or testing results.
The safe swap
Sam's Club
Member's Mark Heavy Duty Food Service Foil
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
Paper with grease-resistant coating, unspecified
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.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
PFAS
Grease-resistant coatings on food-contact paper commonly used fluorochemicals historically; Schwartz Brothers does not disclose coating type. PFAS content cannot be ruled out without supplier testing or certification.
Source: ATSDR ↗Coating leaching into fatty foods
Unknown coating chemistry means unknown migration risk. Fatty meats and oils can solubilize coating compounds; risk is highest with warm or long-duration contact.
What’s reassuring
Microplastic or polymer particle shedding
Paper-based butcher paper does not shed microplastics in the way plastic films do. Coating degradation may release polymeric particles, but no published data on Schwartz Brothers product exists.
Ink or adhesive contamination
Printed logos or text on butcher paper packaging are not typically food-contact surfaces. No recalls or hazard reports for Schwartz Brothers branding are on record.
Bacterial growth from improper storage
Paper itself does not promote bacterial growth if kept dry and cool. Risk is user-dependent (temperature control, package integrity), not product-specific.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Schwartz Brothers butcher packaging paper is cellulose-based with an unspecified grease-resistant coating applied to one or both sides. The coating's chemistry is the critical unknown: it may contain fluorochemicals (PFAS), silicones, or other hydrophobic compounds to repel meat oils and moisture. Paper itself is food-safe, but the coating determines whether leaching or vapor risk occurs during storage or contact with warm fatty foods.
The brand's record and disclosure
Schwartz Brothers does not publicly disclose the composition of its grease-resistant coating or provide testing data for PFAS or other coating constituents. No published certifications (e.g., FDA food-contact approval letters, third-party coating analysis) are available in open sources. The brand's silence on coating chemistry is typical of many regional butcher-supply manufacturers but represents a material information gap for safety assessment.
How it compares in its category
Butcher paper alternatives include uncoated kraft (lower risk but less grease protection), wax-coated paper (older standard, transparency on wax type varies), and certified PFAS-free or silicone-coated options from larger suppliers. Schwartz Brothers occupies the middle ground: functional grease resistance without disclosed ingredient safety, making it harder to rank than brands offering third-party verification or public coating specifications.
If you buy it
Limit use to cold storage (refrigerator, freezer) where coating leaching risk is minimal. Avoid direct contact with warm or room-temperature fatty meats for extended periods; use plastic or ceramic for temporary wrapping of warm foods. Replace paper rolls every 6-12 months regardless of visible condition, as coating degradation is not visually obvious. Do not use for hot food contact, smoking prep, or oven storage.
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
- Schwartz Brothers has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Grease-Resistant Butcher & Deli Paper
Sam's Club
Member's Mark Heavy Duty Food Service Foil
Aluminum foil
Aluminum leaching from acidic foods
Limited concern
Lower risk. Plain aluminum foil typically does not contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Sam's Club
Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
unbleached natural kraft paper
Grease and mineral oil migration
Limited concern
Lower risk. Uncoated paper rarely contains PFAS chemicals.
⚠Risky category by default
IDL Packaging PFAS-Free Grease-Proof Paper Sheets
paper with grease-resistant coating
PFAS
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from coating under wear
Limited concern
Brand claims PFAS-free but lacks independent lab verification.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
More grease-resistant butcher & deli paper 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.