Schwartz Brothers · Grease-Resistant Butcher & Deli Paper
Butcher Paper for Wrapping Meat
Standard meat butcher paper likely contains PFAS in grease barrier, so avoid if concerned.
Schwartz Brothers' butcher paper's grease-resistant coating typically uses wax or PFAS-based treatment to prevent fat seepage. Standard food packaging papers commonly rely on fluorinated compounds.
The safe swap
Sam's Club
Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
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
kraft paper 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.
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-barrier coatings on standard butcher paper commonly use fluorochemicals (PFOA, PFOS, or newer GenX alternatives) to repel oils and water. Schwartz Brothers does not disclose coating chemistry. Migration into fatty meat is possible, especially during extended refrigerated contact or if paper is damaged.
Source: ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and particle shedding
Repeated folding, moisture exposure, or direct contact with sharp bone edges may cause the grease-resistant coating to crack or shed microscopic flakes into meat contact surfaces. No specific data for this brand, but degradation is a known hazard for aged or mechanically stressed food-contact coatings.
Microplastic or coating particle transfer
If the coating includes synthetic polymer additives (common in waterproof paper), mechanical wear or moisture can release particles. Risk is low at room temperature but increases with heat or extended contact. Not documented for Schwartz Brothers specifically.
What’s reassuring
Unbleached kraft paper contaminants
Kraft pulp can retain trace chlorine from processing and may contain minor dioxin residues, but these are tightly regulated in food-contact paper and not established as a risk from butcher paper use at normal storage durations.
Bleach residue or optical brighteners
Some butcher papers are chlorine-bleached; residual hypochlorite and optical brightener compounds can marginally leach into fatty foods. This brand's bleaching method is undisclosed, but food-contact paper regulations cap residues below established toxicity thresholds.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Schwartz Brothers butcher paper is kraft paper (wood pulp) with a grease-resistant coating applied to one or both sides. The coating prevents oil and meat juices from soaking through, but grease-resistant coatings in food-service butcher paper are historically treated with PFAS (PFAS "forever chemicals") to achieve water and oil repellency. This specific brand's coating chemistry is not publicly disclosed, making PFAS presence in the barrier layer highly plausible but unconfirmed.
The brand's record and disclosure
Schwartz Brothers does not publish ingredient transparency or PFAS testing data for this product. No recalls or safety notices specific to this brand's butcher paper appear in FDA or CPSC records. The brand maintains silence on fluorochemical use, which is typical for commodity meat-wrapping suppliers but leaves consumers unable to verify PFAS-free status. No third-party certifications (e.g., GOTS, Cradle to Cradle) are evident for this product line.
How it compares in its category
Most conventional butcher papers from major suppliers (Schwartz, Kraft, generic food-service rolls) rely on PFAS-coated barriers for grease resistance. PFAS-free alternatives exist (e.g., unbleached kraft with beeswax coating, silicone-treated paper) but are less common and typically cost 30-50% more. Standard butcher paper is cheaper and more accessible than specialty options, but the PFAS trade-off is material for health-conscious buyers.
If you buy it
Use this product for room-temperature and refrigerated meat storage only; do not use in freezer if the coating is compromised or for extended contact with acidic foods, as cold and acids may marginally increase migration risk. Replace the wrap every 3-5 days for refrigerated storage. Do not use for wrapping hot meat directly from cooking or for microwave heating. Composting is possible if your facility accepts coated paper, but standard landfill disposal is safe.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% 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.