Yocup Giant Striped Unwrapped Paper Straw
Lower PFAS concern for uncoated paper straws; buy with confidence unless coating disclosed elsewhere.
This straw is plain uncoated paper with no waterproof or grease-resistant coatings, the primary PFAS sources in food-contact items. No PFAS claims are made.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Paper (unwrapped, uncoated)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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.
Ink migration from printed stripes
Water-based inks used for the striped pattern are generally food-safe, but prolonged hot-liquid contact may increase ink bleed into beverages. No recalls or contamination reports are on record for this brand or product type.
Pulp degradation and fiber shedding
Uncoated paper naturally softens and breaks down in prolonged liquid contact. While paper fibers themselves are non-toxic, visible deterioration signals the straw should be discarded to avoid ingesting loose cellulose fragments.
Mold or bacterial growth if stored improperly
Paper's absorbent nature makes it susceptible to mold if stored in high-humidity environments before use. This is a storage issue rather than a manufacturing hazard; keep straws in a dry location until use.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Bleach residue in paper pulp
Food-grade paper products are required to meet safety thresholds for bleach and chemical residues in most jurisdictions. No specific testing or contamination has been reported for Who Gives A Crap straws.
Adhesive or binder chemicals in paper construction
Commercial paper straws typically use food-safe starches or neutral pH binders to hold plies together. No alternative adhesive chemistry is documented for this product, and no safety concerns have been flagged in public records.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
These are plain paper straws without a plastic or wax coating, meaning the primary material in contact with beverages is cellulose fiber. Uncoated paper avoids the most common chemical leaching pathways found in coated alternatives, which often use PFAS-containing water-resistant barriers or phenolic resins. The 'giant' and 'striped' designation refers only to physical dimensions and printing, not chemical composition. Because no barrier coating is present, there is no coating-degradation pathway that could release microplastics or synthetic polymers into food or drink.
The brand's record and disclosure
Who Gives A Crap is a sustainability-focused toilet paper and home goods company with a documented track record of ingredient transparency and environmental commitment. However, their PFAS stance is not publicly detailed on this specific product line, and they do not advertise third-party chemical testing results for straws. The company has not faced major product safety recalls or chemical contamination scandals on record. Their business model emphasizes eco-credentials, which generally correlates with lower synthetic chemical use, though absence of disclosure does not equal absence of testing.
How it compares in its category
Uncoated paper straws like this one have lower concern in the disposable straw category, primarily because they eliminate the coating-chemistry variables that affect wax-lined, plastic-lined, or resin-coated variants. Most commercial paper straws (including Who Gives A Crap's) use food-grade paper and water-based inks for printing; these carry minimal toxicity risk if ingested in trace amounts. The tradeoff is durability, uncoated paper softens faster in prolonged contact with liquids than coated alternatives, making them suitable for cold or room-temperature beverages but less ideal for hot drinks over extended periods.
If you buy it
Use these straws in cold or room-temperature beverages; avoid prolonged contact with very hot liquids, which can soften the paper and potentially allow ink or fibers to migrate into drinks. Discard immediately if the straw shows visible softening, discoloration bleeding, or structural breakdown. Store in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture absorption and mold growth before use. Composting is the ideal disposal method, though municipal recycling or trash disposal poses no chemical hazard; there is no microplastic shedding risk as there would be with plastic alternatives.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 82% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Yocup has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More paper straws 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.