· Parchment Paper & Baking Liners
Great Value Unbleached Parchment Paper
Unbleached parchment likely has lower PFAS risk than bleached, but coating unknown.
Parchment paper typically receives silicone or mineral oil coatings for heat resistance, not Teflon-family coating. Unbleached variant suggests minimal processing, but manufacturer provides no PFAS transparency.
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
unbleached paper with heat-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.
Heat-resistant coating degradation and leaching
The silicone or wax-based coating may degrade if exposed to temperatures above manufacturer limits or after repeated use. Coating particles or additives may migrate into food at high heat, but actual risk frequency and magnitude are not independently verified for this specific product.
Undisclosed additives in coating (potential cross-linkers or slip agents)
Heat-resistant coatings often contain additives such as silica, titanium dioxide, or cross-linking resins that enhance durability. Walmart does not disclose these, so consumers cannot assess potential allergenic or irritant exposure, though food-contact coatings are FDA pre-approved.
Microplastic or coating particle shedding when heated or creased
Repeated folding, creasing, or use at elevated temperatures can cause the coating to flake or shed particles into food. Great Value parchment is not marketed with a durability guarantee, suggesting shorter lifespan and higher particle-shedding risk than reinforced alternatives.
What’s reassuring
BPA & bisphenols
No recalls or published testing for BPA/BPS in Great Value parchment paper have been identified. Standard FDA food-contact regulations restrict these in paper coatings, but the brand provides no explicit statement ruling them out.
Source: FDA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Formaldehyde is sometimes used in paper sizing or resin cross-linkers. Unbleached paper may have slightly lower formaldehyde exposure than bleached, but no third-party testing or brand disclosure exists for this product specifically.
Source: ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Great Value unbleached parchment is cellulose paper treated with a heat-resistant coating, typically silicone-based or wax-based, to prevent sticking and withstand oven temperatures. Unbleached paper avoids chlorine bleaching chemicals (which can form dioxins), reducing one major chemical processing step. However, the coating formulation is proprietary and not disclosed on packaging, meaning the specific additives, cross-linkers, or fluorochemicals used are unknown to consumers. This opacity is the primary safety limitation for this product.
The brand's record and disclosure
Great Value (Walmart's store brand) maintains minimal public disclosure on chemical composition of its food-contact papers. No third-party certifications (such as FDA food-contact approval documentation or independent safety testing) are prominently advertised. Walmart has not published PFAS reduction commitments or ingredient transparency policies specific to parchment paper lines, unlike some premium brands that voluntarily disclose coating types. The brand's silence on the heat-resistant coating is consistent with industry practice but leaves end-users without verification of safety margins.
How it compares in its category
Unbleached parchment papers generally carry lower documented chemical risk than their chlorine-bleached equivalents because they skip dioxin-precursor processing. Great Value sits in the mass-market segment where coating formulations are typically cost-optimized rather than certified PFAS-free. Premium alternatives (If You Care, Katbite) publish explicit coating details or PFAS-free claims; conversely, budget brands like Great Value offer no such transparency. For price-conscious users prioritizing oven safety over maximum chemical disclosure, this product is serviceable; those seeking verified PFAS absence should upgrade.
If you buy it
Use Great Value parchment paper for baking and cooking up to its printed temperature limit (typically 420-450 degrees Fahrenheit); do not use above that threshold, as coating degradation risk increases sharply. Replace the sheet every 3-4 uses, as repeated creasing and wear allow coating particles to separate into food. Keep it away from direct flame and high-speed convection; low and moderate heat baking is safest. Store in a dry place, as moisture can degrade the coating over time and reduce non-stick effectiveness.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- 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.