Schwartz Brothers · Grease-Resistant Butcher & Deli Paper
The Brenmar Company White Butcher Paper 18" x 1000'
Standard butcher paper carries PFAS concern due to grease-resistant coating.
Schwartz Brothers' butcher paper typically has a grease-resistant treatment that may contain PFAS. No public disclosure exists, and certified PFAS-free alternatives would be safer.
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
Bleached kraft paper, likely 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-resistant coatings on food-contact paper commonly contain PFAS (perfluorinated compounds) to repel fats and moisture. No public testing or vendor certification exists for this specific Brenmar product; coating chemistry is undisclosed. Migration risk is highest with fatty foods, warm storage, and prolonged contact.
Source: ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and microparticle shedding
Grease-resistant coatings can degrade or peel with age, humidity, or mechanical stress, potentially shedding microscopic particles into wrapped foods. No specific degradation data exists for this product. Inspect rolls for visible wear, cracking, or flaking before use; discard damaged stock.
What’s reassuring
Bleach residues and chlorine compounds
Bleached kraft paper is subject to FDA food-contact regulations (21 CFR 176.180); commercial bleaching processes are controlled. No specific safety alerts or contamination reports are on record for Brenmar butcher paper. Standard bleaching (hypochlorite or chlorine dioxide) does not leave harmful residues if manufacturing meets FDA guidelines.
Dioxins from chlorine bleaching
Modern kraft paper bleaching in regulated facilities produces negligible dioxin levels well below food-contact safety thresholds. No recalls or testing failures are documented for Schwartz Brothers or similar commodity butcher papers. Risk is theoretical and falls below actionable consumer concern for standard use.
Heavy metals
FDA-regulated bleaching does not introduce lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals into finished paper at harmful levels. No safety warnings or test failures are on record for butcher paper in this category. Compliance is routine for commercial manufacturers.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This is bleached kraft paper, the industry standard for butcher and deli wrapping. The grease-resistant coating is the critical unknown: it is most likely a fluorochemical or silicone-based treatment applied to resist fat and moisture penetration. No public testing or certification data on Brenmar/Schwartz Brothers products specifies which coating technology is used. This coating can migrate into fatty foods under normal storage and handling, particularly if paper contacts warm or oily meat products.
The brand's record and disclosure
Schwartz Brothers (Brenmar Company parent/distributor) has no publicly available material safety documentation, PFAS commitment statement, or third-party certifications for this product line. The company does not disclose coating composition on packaging or websites reviewed. This silence is typical of smaller foodservice suppliers but leaves end-users unable to verify PFAS-free or fluorochemical-free claims. No recalls or safety incidents are recorded for this specific product.
How it compares in its category
Standard bleached butcher paper across brands (Deli Paper, uncoated kraft rolls, and competitor products) carries the same uncertainty unless labeled PFOA/PFAS-free. Uncoated kraft paper eliminates coating risk but offers no grease barrier. Certified options exist (some European and specialty brands advertise fluorochemical-free coatings), but cost more and are less widely stocked. This product is a mid-market choice that trades convenience for transparency.
If you buy it
Store rolls in a cool, dry place away from direct heat or sunlight; high temperatures can accelerate coating migration into fatty foods. Use for wrapping and short-term storage (under 2 weeks refrigerated) of deli meats, butcher cuts, and cheeses. Avoid prolonged contact with hot foods or high-fat items like bacon or fatty cuts; transfer to sealed containers for storage instead. Do not use for direct contact with foods during heating (oven, microwave, or steaming). Replace rolls every 12-18 months if stored; paper degrades and can shed fibers.
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.