US Foods · Grease-Resistant Butcher & Deli Paper
Deli Paper for Wrapping Meats
Avoid until brand confirms no PFAS in grease barrier.
US Foods' deli paper typically uses grease-resistant coatings, often fluorinated to repel oil. PFAS content or coating chemistry is not publicly disclosed, and no third-party testing is available.
The safe swap
Sam's Club
Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
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
Paper with unspecified 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.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Grease-barrier coating leaching (unknown chemistry)
Unidentified coating may release monomers or oligomers into fatty meats; risk is higher if coating is PFAS-based. Cold storage minimizes this, but no safety data is publicly available for this specific product formulation.
Microplastic or degradation fragments
Repeated folding, freezing, or contact with sharp meat edges may cause coating fragmentation. No documented recalls, but risk exists if coating lacks durability or contains rigid polymers.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Food-contact paper coatings are typically not formaldehyde-based in modern manufacturing, but cross-contamination from recycled fiber feedstocks is theoretically possible. No evidence of this issue for US Foods products.
Source: ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Deli paper is typically white or off-white; pigment loading is minimal. No recalls or alerts exist for lead or cadmium in US Foods wrapping products.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
US Foods deli paper is cellulose-based paper treated with an unspecified grease-resistant coating to prevent oil and moisture penetration during meat storage and transport. The coating's chemical identity is critical: modern grease barriers in food-contact paper are often fluorochemicals (PFAS-based) or silicone/wax alternatives. Without disclosure, the safety profile remains opaque. The paper itself poses minimal hazard, but the coating's leaching behavior under refrigeration, freezing, and direct contact with fatty meats is unknown.
The brand's record and disclosure
US Foods, a major food-service distributor, does not publicly disclose coating chemistry for this product or state PFAS-free certification on packaging or websites reviewed. The company has not responded to industry pressure on fluorochemical phase-outs in food-contact materials. No recalls or safety complaints are on record for this specific product. This silence is significant in a category where competitors increasingly specify non-PFAS alternatives.
How it compares in its category
Deli paper wrapping is typically coated with either PFAS-based chemistries (fastest, cheapest barrier) or silicone/polyethylene/wax blends (slower adoption, costlier). Brands like Cryopak and some regional suppliers now offer explicit PFAS-free or fluorochemical-free options. US Foods' market position and silence suggest possible reliance on older PFAS formulations, though this is not confirmed. Cold-storage deli papers face less degradation risk than hot-use cookware, reducing leaching likelihood.
If you buy it
Use only for cold wrapping and storage below 50°F; avoid direct contact with warm or hot meats. Replace after each use; do not reuse. Do not microwave or expose to temperatures above 60°C. Store in cool, dry conditions to minimize coating breakdown. If you have access to institutional suppliers, request competitor quotes specifying non-PFAS certification (e.g., silicone-coated or wax-free alternatives) to reduce uncertainty.
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
- US Foods has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Grease-Resistant Butcher & Deli Paper
Sam's Club
Member's Mark Heavy Duty Food Service Foil
Aluminum foil
Aluminum leaching from acidic foods
Limited concern
Lower risk. Plain aluminum foil typically does not contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Sam's Club
Idl Packaging White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
unbleached natural kraft paper
Grease and mineral oil migration
Limited concern
Lower risk. Uncoated paper rarely contains PFAS chemicals.
⚠Risky category by default
IDL Packaging PFAS-Free Grease-Proof Paper Sheets
paper with grease-resistant coating
PFAS
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from coating under wear
Limited concern
Brand claims PFAS-free but lacks independent lab verification.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
More grease-resistant butcher & deli 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.