PFAS in Food Packaging (General): What to Avoid and Safer Alternatives (2026)

PFAS in food packaging is the largest dietary PFAS exposure route for most Americans.

Quick answer

Some food packaging (general) contain PFAS ("forever chemicals") and some do not. PFAS in food packaging is the largest dietary PFAS exposure route for most Americans. Third-party testing has flagged specific brands (below); safer options include McDonald's, Wendy's, Chipotle, Cava, Sweetgreen wrappers/bowls (verified PFAS-free) and Whole Foods Market pizza boxes and prepared-food packaging. The same chemicals contaminate drinking water, so the highest-impact step for most people is filtering their tap.

How we source this: we report published third-party testing (Green Science Policy Institute, Consumer Reports, Mamavation, Ecology Center, Silent Spring Institute, and peer-reviewed studies) and name the study behind each finding. We do not test products ourselves.

How PFAS gets into food packaging (general)

PFAS coatings give paper and molded-fiber food packaging grease and moisture resistance. They appear in burger wrappers, fry boxes, popcorn bags, pizza boxes, takeout containers, ice cream cartons, butter wrappers, and parchment-style baking papers.

What testing has found

A 2023 FDA total-diet study found measurable PFAS in 50% of food samples tested. The Mind the Store 2023 retailer report found significant variation by chain – McDonald's, Wendy's, Chipotle, Cava, and Sweetgreen have completed PFAS phase-outs in US packaging; Burger King, Jack in the Box, and Taco Bell are still in transition.

Brands flagged in testing

  • Generic compostable molded-fiber bowls from low-cost suppliers
  • Most non-Whole-Foods pizza boxes (transitioning)
  • Many "compostable" or "biodegradable" coated papers without explicit PFAS-free certification
  • Microwave popcorn bags (Orville Redenbacher, Pop Secret, Act II, store brand)

Safer brand alternatives

  • McDonald's, Wendy's, Chipotle, Cava, Sweetgreen wrappers/bowls (verified PFAS-free)
  • Whole Foods Market pizza boxes and prepared-food packaging
  • Eco-Products Vanguard line – explicitly PFAS-free
  • World Centric – third-party verified PFAS-free
  • Glass and stainless steel reusable containers

How this connects to your drinking water

Food packaging is the single largest source of PFAS in landfill leachate, which contaminates groundwater. Composting facilities that accept PFAS-treated paper are now major sources of farmland contamination – Maine's farmland PFAS crisis was traced largely to PFAS-treated compost.

What to do right now

  • Cook at home and store food in glass or stainless containers – eliminates 80% of food packaging PFAS exposure
  • When eating out: choose chains that have completed PFAS phase-out (McDonald's, Wendy's, Chipotle, Cava)
  • Bring your own reusable container for takeout
  • Support state laws banning PFAS in food packaging – now law in 13+ US states

Frequently asked questions

Do all food packaging (general) contain PFAS?
No. Several brands have been third-party tested PFAS-free, including McDonald's, Wendy's, Chipotle, Cava, Sweetgreen wrappers/bowls (verified PFAS-free), Whole Foods Market pizza boxes and prepared-food packaging, Eco-Products Vanguard line – explicitly PFAS-free. The PFAS-containing products are usually those marketed with words like "stain-resistant," "waterproof," "long-wear," "non-stick," or "grease-resistant."
How do I know if my food packaging (general) have PFAS?
Check the ingredient list or product spec sheet for: PTFE, PFOA, PFOS, perfluoro-, polyfluoro-, fluoro-, or "fluorocarbon" prefixes. If the product is labeled "stain-resistant," "waterproof," or "non-stick" without an explicit PFAS-free certification, assume PFAS until proven otherwise.
What's the safest alternative?
For food packaging (general), the cleanest options include McDonald's, Wendy's, Chipotle, Cava, Sweetgreen wrappers/bowls (verified PFAS-free) and Whole Foods Market pizza boxes and prepared-food packaging. Cook at home and store food in glass or stainless containers – eliminates 80% of food packaging PFAS exposure.
How does this connect to drinking water contamination?
Food packaging is the single largest source of PFAS in landfill leachate, which contaminates groundwater. Composting facilities that accept PFAS-treated paper are now major sources of farmland contamination – Maine's farmland PFAS crisis was traced largely to PFAS-treated compost.
Are PFAS in food packaging (general) regulated?
Federal regulation is limited. In February 2024 the FDA announced that manufacturers had stopped selling PFAS-based grease-proofing agents for US food packaging, a voluntary phase-out rather than a ban. 13+ US states have passed PFAS-in-products bans (Maine, California, New York, Washington, Minnesota, others). Personal-care PFAS are not federally regulated, though several states are considering bans.