Seventh Generation · Grease-Resistant Deli & Butcher Paper
Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Paper Kitchen Towel Rolls, 2-Ply, 11 x 5.4, 156 Sheets/Roll, 24 Rolls/Carton (13722)
Lower PFAS concern. Paper towels typically uncoated. Verify product specs.
These uncoated recycled paper towels are intrinsically lower PFAS risk. The brand makes no PFAS claims, but product material is inherently unlikely to contain intentional fluorochemicals.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
100% recycled paper, 2-ply, no stated coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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.
Residual inks and dyes from recycled fiber
Recycled paper may contain fugitive inks or pigments from prior printing. FDA-compliant recycled paper towels are monitored for heavy metals (lead, cadmium), but trace migration to hands is theoretically possible with prolonged wet contact; risk is low for typical kitchen use.
Bacterial/mold growth if stored in damp conditions
Paper towel rolls stored in humid or poorly ventilated areas can develop microbial colonization. This is a storage hazard, not a manufacturing defect, and is mitigated by keeping the product in a dry kitchen environment.
Microfiber shedding during use
All paper towels shed microscopic fibers with use; this is unavoidable with uncoated cellulose. Shedding is relevant if used for food prep surfaces (minor dietary exposure) but not a hazard distinct from any paper towel product.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No formaldehyde-based resins are standard in uncoated paper towel manufacture. Seventh Generation's certifications require disclosure of such additives; none are listed on available product documentation.
Source, ATSDR ↗Chlorine bleach residues
This recycled product does not undergo the chlorine bleaching typical of virgin paper; no public record indicates use of harsh whitening agents. Brand transparency suggests any processing chemicals are within food-contact safety limits.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This product is 100% recycled paper formed into 2-ply sheets with no stated chemical coatings or surface treatments. Recycled paper can retain residual inks and dyes from prior use, but food-contact paper towels are typically not bleached or treated with chlorine-based whiteners at levels of concern for incidental hand/surface contact. The uncoated nature means no Teflon-type coating, wax, or synthetic binders are present that would off-gas or leach into food.
The brand's record and disclosure
Seventh Generation publishes ingredient and sourcing data for most products and holds third-party certifications (Green Seal, Cradle to Cradle) that require disclosure of restricted chemicals. The company has not faced recalls or public safety warnings for paper towel products. Brand silence on PFAS for this category is consistent with industry practice, since uncoated paper towels are not a known PFAS vector; however, the company does not publicly commit to PFAS-free sourcing across all product lines.
How it compares in its category
Standard virgin-fiber paper towels carry no material safety advantage over recycled alternatives for this use case. Recycled paper towels avoid the bleaching chemicals (chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide residues) sometimes used in virgin pulp processing. This product's 2-ply construction and certified sourcing place it in the middle-to-upper tier of transparency compared to store brands, which rarely disclose fiber source or processing steps.
If you buy it
Paper towels require no special handling; store in a dry location to prevent mold growth if exposed to moisture. Do not use for sustained contact with hot cookware or prolonged food storage, as paper degrades and fibers may shed. Replace rolls when structural integrity visibly declines (holes, weak spots). This product is suitable for routine kitchen cleanup, hand drying, and surface wiping without additional safety precautions.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 78% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Seventh Generation has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Grease-Resistant Deli & Butcher Paper
IDL Packaging
White Butcher Paper 18" x Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
bleached paper, uncoated
Mold or microbial growth during storage
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
IDL Packaging
White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
bleached kraft paper, no specified coating
Ink or printing residue (if printed side contacts food)
Limited concern
Mold or microbial growth during storage
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
If You Care
Parchment Baking Sheets
unbleached parchment paper, silicone coating
Silicone coating degradation under heat stress
Limited concern
Mold or microbial growth if stored damp
Limited concern
Brand no-added-PFAS claim and a 2021 lab result with no fluorine detected.
✓Lab test found no PFAS
More grease-resistant deli & butcher 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.