PFAS in Pizza Boxes: What to Avoid and Safer Alternatives (2026)

Quick answer

Some pizza boxes contain PFAS ("forever chemicals") and some do not. Many pizza boxes contain PFAS to resist grease – directly contacting your food. Third-party testing has flagged specific brands (below); safer options include Whole Foods Market pizza boxes (verified PFAS-free) and Pizzas served on wood or metal trays at restaurants. 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 pizza boxes

Pizza boxes are made from corrugated paperboard, which would absorb grease without a barrier. Many manufacturers spray PFAS coatings on the inside of the box. Heat from the pizza accelerates PFAS migration into the food.

What testing has found

Mind the Store 2022 testing found PFAS in pizza boxes from major chains including Pizza Hut, Domino's, and Papa John's. By 2024, Pizza Hut and Domino's announced PFAS phase-out commitments, but compliance varies by franchise location.

Brands flagged in testing

• Most generic pizza boxes from independent pizzerias (depends on supplier)
• Pre-2024 Pizza Hut, Domino's, Papa John's boxes (now transitioning)
• Frozen pizza boxes from generic supermarket brands

Safer brand alternatives

• Whole Foods Market pizza boxes (verified PFAS-free)
• Pizzas served on wood or metal trays at restaurants
• Boxes labeled "PFAS-free" or "no PFAS added"
• Newspaper-wrapped pizza (zero PFAS, traditional method)

How this connects to your drinking water

Pizza boxes that go into compost contaminate the resulting compost with PFAS. The compost is applied to farms, contaminating soil and groundwater. Pizza boxes are a major target of state PFAS-in-food-packaging bans.

What to do right now

• Eat pizza in-restaurant on the metal tray instead of taking out
• When ordering takeout, transfer pizza to a glass container immediately
• Don't microwave pizza in the box – heat accelerates PFAS migration
• Avoid composting pizza boxes (they'll contaminate the compost)

Frequently asked questions

Do all pizza boxes contain PFAS?

No. Several brands have been third-party tested PFAS-free, including Whole Foods Market pizza boxes (verified PFAS-free), Pizzas served on wood or metal trays at restaurants, Boxes labeled "PFAS-free" or "no PFAS added". 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 pizza boxes 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 pizza boxes, the cleanest options include Whole Foods Market pizza boxes (verified PFAS-free) and Pizzas served on wood or metal trays at restaurants. Eat pizza in-restaurant on the metal tray instead of taking out.

How does this connect to drinking water contamination?

Pizza boxes that go into compost contaminate the resulting compost with PFAS. The compost is applied to farms, contaminating soil and groundwater. Pizza boxes are a major target of state PFAS-in-food-packaging bans.

Are PFAS in pizza boxes 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.