· Deli Meat & Cold Cuts Packaging
Personalized Butcher Paper
Avoid until brand discloses coating composition and PFAS status.
Standard butcher paper typically uses silicone or PFAS-based grease barriers. The brand provides no public disclosure of coating type or PFAS testing.
The better-graded swap
IDL Packaging
Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
95/100 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
Bleached kraft paper with grease-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Personalized Butcher Paper is made of, ingredients and materials
Butcher paper is bleached kraft pulp treated with a grease-resistant coating to prevent oil and moisture from penetrating and compromising structural integrity during storage and transport. The brand's product uses this coating but does not publicly disclose its chemical basis. Grease barriers in food contact paper are historically made with wax, silicone, or synthetic fluorinated compounds (PFAS); without disclosure, the specific formulation is unknown. The bleaching process itself (typically chlorine or oxygen-based) is standard and low-risk if residual chlorine is properly removed during manufacture.
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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Undisclosed fluorinated coating on butcher paper is statistically likely to contain PFAS (historically standard in food packaging), though brand does not confirm. Graded separately at 25/100; this product warrants avoidance until composition is public.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating leaching or migration into fatty foods
Fatty cold cuts and cured meats can promote migration of coating components into food, particularly if paper is in contact with salt-cured or oil-rich products for extended periods. Without knowing coating chemistry, risk magnitude cannot be quantified.
Thermal degradation of coating if heated
If this paper is accidentally used in cooking, microwave, or steam applications, unknown coating may degrade and release particles or volatiles. Not intended for heat use, but user error is a realistic risk.
What’s reassuring
Chlorine residue from bleaching
Bleached kraft pulp used in food contact applications is regulated and residual chlorine levels are typically controlled; no documented contamination issues known for this product category. Risk is minimal if manufacturer follows FDA compliance.
Ink or dyes in personalization printing
Custom printing on butcher paper typically uses food-grade inks, but the brand does not disclose ink composition or whether printed side contacts food. If inks are soy-based or regulated, risk is minimal; if not specified, keep printed surface away from direct meat contact.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
The brand has not published material safety data or composition details for this product on publicly available channels. No third-party certifications (FDA, NSF, compostability claims) appear on record for this specific product line. The brand's silence on coating chemistry is a red flag for transparency, particularly given industry-wide migration away from PFAS in food packaging. No recalls or documented safety incidents are known, but absence of disclosure prevents independent verification of safety claims.
How it compares in its category
Most commercial butcher paper used by delis and retail butchers contains either PFAS-based or wax-based coatings. Certified compostable and PFAS-free alternatives (e.g., from suppliers like Footprint or Notpla) are increasingly available but typically cost 15-30% more and are less common in small-scale operations. The brand's product is middle-of-the-road, likely cheaper than certified alternatives but lacking the transparency or third-party verification that justifies purchasing conventional options. This positioning makes it a weaker choice than either disclosed PFAS-free or PFAS-alternative products in the same price range.
If you buy it
Use this paper for temporary wrapping and storage of cold cuts, not for prolonged contact with fatty cured meats (e.g., more than a few days). Do not heat this paper or use it in ovens, microwaves, or steamers, as unknown coating chemistry may degrade or off-gas. Store wrapped products in refrigeration and replace paper every 2-3 days if meat is in direct contact. Request the brand's material safety data sheet (MSDS) before purchase; if unavailable, consider switching to a competitor with published PFAS or fluorine-free certifications.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% 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.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Personalized Butcher Paper?
IDL Packaging
White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
- natural kraft butcher paper, no coating specified
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Bleach residue and chlorine compounds
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- stainless steel blade, bare metal construction
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Blade degradation and metal particle shedding
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- kraft paper, unbleached cellulose
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More deli meat & cold cuts 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.