Tanimura & Antle · Food Packaging
Compostable Takeout Container - Rectangular Grab 'n Go 64 oz. (200 / case)
Avoid until coating composition is disclosed; compostable containers often use PFAS treatments.
This bagasse-based container claims compostability without publicly disclosing grease-resistant coating details. Fiber-based food packaging commonly uses fluorinated PFAS for oil and moisture protection without manufacturer transparency.
The safe swap
Eco-Products
Eco-Products 12 oz. World Art Compostable Food Containers 25-ct. pack
100/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Fiber-based (likely sugarcane/bagasse) with unknown 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.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Category baseline
food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
PFAS
Fiber takeout containers almost universally require fluorinated or fluorine-free water-repellent treatments. Without disclosed composition, PFAS presence cannot be ruled out and is common in this category. Contact with fatty foods increases leaching risk.
Source: ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and microparticle migration
Fiber containers degrade when wet or heated; coating breakdown can release microscopic coating particles into food. Risk is highest for hot, oily, or liquid-heavy foods. No specific testing data is available for this brand.
Mold or bacterial growth from moisture retention
If stored damp or reused, fiber's porous structure can harbor mold or bacteria. Risk is low if used single-use and stored dry, but high if washed and reused.
What’s reassuring
Contaminants from recycled fiber feedstock
Bagasse is a virgin agricultural byproduct, not recycled material, so ink, adhesive, or post-consumer contamination is minimal. No recalls or reports of heavy metals or pesticide residues in sugarcane bagasse containers exist.
BPA & bisphenols
Fiber-based containers do not contain polycarbonate, vinyl, or phthalate-prone plastics. Migration risk from these compounds is absent by material class.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This container is fiber-based, most likely sugarcane bagasse (a paper industry byproduct), which is inherently compostable and low-toxicity as a base material. The critical unknown is the grease-resistant coating applied to the interior. Fiber containers require waterproof treatments to prevent sogginess and grease breakthrough; these coatings are commonly fluorinated polymers (PFAS) or, less often, paraffin or bio-based waxes. Tanimura & Antle has not publicly disclosed the coating chemistry, which is the primary safety concern with this product.
The brand's record and disclosure
Tanimura & Antle is a major fresh-produce distributor (lettuce, leafy greens) acquired by Apio Inc.; they do not maintain public safety or sustainability documentation specific to their packaging suppliers. No dedicated statement on PFAS avoidance or coating composition has been located in available sources. The company's silence on this standard packaging specification is consistent with many foodservice suppliers but represents a disclosure gap that elevates uncertainty around compostable container products.
How it compares in its category
Compostable takeout containers occupy a middle ground: they avoid dioxins and phthalates inherent in virgin plastic (#6 polystyrene foam), but introduce uncertainty around fluorinated greaseproofing coatings. Certified compostable containers (third-party verification from BPI or similar) are more likely to use PFAS-free coatings, but this product lacks that certification status. Uncoated fiber containers and recyclable plastic (#1 PET) alternatives have clearer coating profiles; conventional polystyrene foam has longer toxicological history but known PFAS exposure pathways.
If you buy it
Use only for dry foods, sandwiches, and items at or below room temperature. Avoid hot liquids, fatty foods (pizza, fried items, dressings), and prolonged storage. The fiber material itself will degrade and disintegrate if saturated; coating breakdown accelerates with heat and grease. Replace containers if you observe softening, discoloration, or grease seeping through the bottom. For composting: verify your local facility accepts fiber foodservice packaging; many do not.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 40% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Tanimura & Antle has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Food Packaging
World Centric
Compostable Fiber Compost-A-Pak Containers
Fiber-based (wood pulp/molded fiber), compostable coating
Proprietary coating chemical migration
Limited concern
Moisture and microbial growth in fiber matrix
Limited concern
Coating degradation under heat or fatty foods
Moderate concern
Recycling contamination if misdisposed
Limited concern
Lower concern with documented PFAS-free commitments, though independent lab confirmation on this specific product absent.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Vegware
Compostable Microflute Takeaway Box
Plant-based fiber (sugarcane bagasse microflute); water-based coatings
Coating degradation under heat and moisture
Limited concern
Lower concern; plant-based compostable packaging with stated PFAS-free positioning and limited independent verification.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Loliware
Compostable Hinged Deli Containers
Polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic, plant-based coatings
PLA oligomer leaching
Limited concern
Microplastic generation on degradation
Limited concern
Lower PFAS concern; compostable bioplastic design avoids fluorine coatings.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
More food packaging 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.