If You Care · Parchment Paper & Baking Liners
If You Care Parchment Baking Paper
Parchment paper likely treated; coating ingredients not disclosed.
Parchment baking paper requires grease resistance, typically from PFAS-based Teflon-family coating coatings. Brand discloses no coating specifics or PFAS testing. Higher concern than untreated alternatives.
The safe swap
Seventh Generation
Parchment Baking Sheets | 3 x 24 sheets
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 paper with undisclosed 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 coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
PFAS
Target's undisclosed grease-resistant coating is most commonly fluorocarbon-based in this product category; PFAS compounds can leach into fatty foods (oils, butter, meat) during heating. Brand silence on ingredient identity suggests no reformulation to safer silicone coatings.
Source: ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and particulate release
Repeated high-heat exposure or physical damage to the coating surface can cause flaking or powder release into food; if coating is fluorocarbon-based, breakdown products may include perfluorinated compounds with unknown ingestion safety.
Microplastic or coating particle contamination from manufacturing
No recalls or testing data available for Target's parchment line, but coating application machinery can introduce trace particulates; risk is low for occasional use but cumulative with frequent heavy-use households.
What’s reassuring
Chlorine-based bleaching residue
Bleached paper is standard in food parchment and regulated as food-safe in North America; residual chlorine or dioxins from bleaching are not reported as a concern for this product class when used within temperature limits.
Bleach allergy or sensitivity
Bleached paper parchment does not carry documented allergen or irritation hazards for typical home use; residual bleach is minimal and not a reported concern for this product type.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This product is bleached paper substrate with an applied grease-resistant coating whose specific chemistry Target does not disclose publicly. Parchment paper coatings are typically either silicone-based (safer) or fluorocarbon-based (PFAS-containing); the lack of disclosure here suggests fluorocarbon treatment to achieve the non-stick performance users expect. The bleached paper base itself is standard food-grade and poses minimal chemical risk, but the coating composition determines actual safety profile.
The brand's record and disclosure
Target's store-brand parchment paper carries no published certifications (e.g., unbleached, PFAS-free, or third-party food safety audits). Target has not issued public statements about PFAS avoidance in this product line, and the coating ingredients remain undisclosed on packaging or corporate websites. This silence is notable given that major competitors like If You Care (the original brand name) and some premium alternatives now openly specify PFAS-free coatings; Target's refusal to disclose suggests either conventional PFAS treatment or a decision not to market reformulation.
How it compares in its category
Standard parchment paper sits between plastic wrap (microplastics risk when heated) and silicone baking mats (reusable, no coating concerns). Unbleached or PFAS-free certified parchment options (e.g., If You Care, Primal Living) explicitly state coating safety and cost 10-20 percent more. Target's product offers budget-friendly convenience but forfeits the transparency premium alternatives provide; most mass-market parchment paper shares this opacity on coating chemistry.
If you buy it
Use only for baking at temperatures below 420°F (the standard safe range for parchment); higher heat can degrade coatings and release fumes, especially if coating is PFAS-based. Replace the sheet if you notice browning, peeling, or discoloration of the coating surface. For prolonged use or frequent baking, consider switching to a certified PFAS-free alternative or reusable silicone mats to reduce cumulative PFAS ingestion risk. Store in a cool, dry place; do not reuse sheets if they show visible coating damage.
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
- If You Care has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Parchment Paper & Baking Liners
Seventh Generation
Parchment Baking Sheets | 3 x 24 sheets
bleached paper with silicone coating
Silicone coating degradation and microparticles
Limited concern
Heat-induced breakdown of paper fibers
Limited concern
Lower concern. PFAS-free claim backed by MADE SAFE cert.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Seventh Generation
Zulay Kitchen 200 Pcs Unbleached Non-Stick Baking Parchment Paper Sheets for Oven
unbleached cellulose paper, silicone coating
Silicone coating degradation at high heat
Limited concern
Migration of coating additives into fatty foods
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding during handling or cooking
Limited concern
Lower concern. Unbleached parchment with silicone coating; PFAS risk lower than conventional brands.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Seventh Generation
Parchment Paper Roll
wood pulp with silicone-based coating
Silicone coating degradation under high heat
Limited concern
Ink or printing chemical migration
Limited concern
Lower concern. Seventh Generation's PFAS-free claim is credible but unverified.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
More parchment paper & baking liners 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.