Is Parchment Paper PFAS-Free? Safer Food Storage and Baking Swaps

Quick answer: Retail baking parchment is a different product from the grease-proofed food packaging the FDA has been taking PFAS out of. On February 28, 2024, the FDA announced that grease-proofing materials containing PFAS are no longer being sold for use in U.S. food packaging. The agency named fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, take-out paperboard containers, and pet food bags. In January 2025 it determined that 35 related food-contact notifications are no longer effective, with a compliance date of June 30, 2025 for certain packaging already made. None of that is a brand-by-brand test of baking parchment. For baking, choose a paper whose listing tells you what the sheet is, such as unbleached and chlorine-free. For storage, move food into glass.

Below is what those rules cover, what older studies measured, and the storage and baking pieces linked from our non-toxic products directory. For pans, see the PFAS-free cookware comparison.

Is parchment paper PFAS-free?

There is no FDA finding that says every roll of baking parchment is PFAS-free. There is also no FDA finding that puts retail baking parchment on the list of PFAS grease-proofers. The grease-proofing uses the FDA describes are fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, take-out paperboard containers, and pet food bags.

Two limits matter when you shop.

A paper claim is not a PFAS test. Unbleached, compostable, and chlorine-free describe how the sheet was made. They do not report a laboratory result for PFAS.

PFAS can show up without being an added ingredient. The FDA says PFAS may occur in food packaging as an impurity formed during processing, or as a contaminant, for example when manufacturing water already contains PFAS. Highly sensitive tests can find PFAS even when they were not intentionally used, including at levels the FDA says would not be a health concern. The FDA also says a total-fluorine test only measures fluorine. It cannot tell PFAS apart from other fluorine-containing substances.

Read the maker's own description. Treat "PFAS-free" as a real claim only when those words are on the listing.

What did the FDA announce about grease-proofing PFAS?

On February 28, 2024, the FDA announced that grease-proofing materials containing PFAS are no longer being sold for use in food packaging in the United States. The agency said this removes the major source of dietary exposure to PFAS from packaging such as fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, take-out paperboard containers, and pet food bags.

PFAS authorized for food contact fall into four groups: nonstick coatings, sealing gaskets for food-processing equipment, manufacturing aids, and grease-proofing agents for paper food packaging. The FDA says current data indicate that only the paper and paperboard agents would result in dietary exposure that may raise a safety concern. On those papers, PFAS are attached as smaller side chains. The FDA says that under certain conditions a side chain can detach, so PFAS can migrate into food.

The February 2024 announcement completed a voluntary phase-out. In 2020, after a post-market safety assessment raised questions about 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH), the FDA obtained commitments from manufacturers to stop selling grease-proofing substances that contain that type of PFAS. Separately, manufacturers of the remaining authorized PFAS grease-proofers told the FDA in 2023 that they had stopped selling those products for business reasons. The FDA says it did not have safety concerns for that remaining group.

Long-chain grease-proofers, often called C8 compounds and including PFOA and PFOS, stopped being sold for U.S. food-contact use between 2011 and 2016. The FDA revoked the remaining long-chain authorizations in 2016. The FDA says that as of November 2016, long-chain PFAS were no longer used in food-contact applications sold in the United States.

On January 3, 2025, the FDA announced a Federal Register determination that 35 food-contact notifications for these PFAS grease-proofing uses are no longer effective. The reason is abandonment: the manufacturers or suppliers had ceased production, supply, or use. Those notifications are no longer effective as of January 6, 2025. The FDA set a compliance date of June 30, 2025 for certain paper food packaging that had been produced, supplied, or used before January 6, 2025, so existing stocks could be exhausted. The FDA has also developed a screening method to keep checking paper food packaging for these substances.

This guide is dated after that June 30, 2025 compliance date. The phase-out covers those authorized grease-proofing substances. It is not a test result for every wrapper, bag, or imported package on a shelf.

Do microwave popcorn bags contain PFAS?

They were one of the uses the FDA names for PFAS grease-proofing. The coating kept oil from soaking through the bag. Those substances are no longer being sold for that U.S. food-contact use, and the related notifications are no longer effective.

Older FDA research shows why the bags were a focus. A 2008 paper from FDA researchers tested fluorochemical-treated paper and found that microwave popcorn contained 3.2 milligrams of fluorochemical per kilogram of popcorn after popping. Butter in that study contained 0.1 milligrams per kilogram after 40 days at 4°C. A 2005 paper from FDA researchers reported PFOA in microwave popcorn bag paper at amounts as high as 300 micrograms per kilogram, and milligram-per-kilogram amounts of perfluoro paper additives transferring into food oil. Those papers describe products tested then. They are not a 2026 store survey.

Pop kernels in a covered pan on the stove instead. The Lodge Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 7 Quart listing says the pot is made with only iron and oil and describes that cookware as PFAS-free. Pan materials are compared in the cookware guide.

Do fast-food wrappers and takeout boxes contain PFAS?

They were a main use of the same grease-proofing agents. A 2017 study in Environmental Science & Technology Letters tested 407 pieces of U.S. fast-food packaging collected in 2014 and 2015. A total-fluorine screen found detectable fluorine, above 16 nmol per square centimeter, in 46% of food-contact papers and 20% of food-contact paperboard. Within the papers, detection was 38% for sandwich and burger wrappers, 56% for dessert and bread wrappers, and 57% for Tex-Mex packaging. Paper cups and papers that did not touch food had no detections in that set. Compound-specific testing of a 20-sample subset found known PFAS and unidentified polyfluorinated compounds. That study describes packaging collected in 2014 and 2015, before the later phase-out.

Washington State restricts sale, not only manufacturer phase-outs. The Department of Ecology says that under RCW 70A.222.070, certain paper and other plant-fiber food packaging with intentionally added PFAS may not be manufactured, sold, or distributed in the state. Ecology's list covers wraps, plates, food boats, and pizza boxes as of February 1, 2023, and bags, sleeves, bowls, flat serviceware, open-top containers, and closed containers as of May 1, 2024. Manufacturers of those items must keep a certificate of compliance. Ecology has also written that its research indicates PFAS was already being phased out of paper food packaging and would largely be removed in the United States by 2025. That is Ecology's assessment of the market, not a test of home baking parchment.

When a meal arrives in a grease-resistant wrapper or box, move it onto a plate or into a glass container before you reheat it.

What health effects do agencies associate with PFAS?

The U.S. EPA describes PFAS as widely used, long-lasting chemicals, components of which break down very slowly. EPA says many PFAS are found in the blood of people and animals around the world, and that scientific studies have shown exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals.

ATSDR says epidemiological evidence suggests associations between higher exposure to specific PFAS and higher cholesterol, a lower antibody response to some vaccines, changes in liver enzymes, pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, small decreases in birth weight, and kidney and testicular cancer for PFOA. ATSDR says the chance of an effect depends on the dose, how often and how long someone is exposed, and the person's own health. That is what those agencies report. It is not a measure of exposure from one sheet of parchment, and it is not medical advice.

How do you choose baking paper?

Read the words printed on the listing. "Chlorine-free" does not mean a lab looked for PFAS. On pans, "PFOA-free" does not mean the coating is free of PTFE.

If You Care Parchment Paper is the baking paper in this directory. The listing describes a 70-square-foot roll as FSC certified, certified compostable, unbleached, and totally chlorine-free. It does not say PFAS-free. Line a metal or glass sheet with it when you want release without a nonstick pan. The cookware guide covers that swap.

Glass, plastic, or something else for food storage?

Glass keeps leftovers off grease-proofed paper. A plastic lid, a beeswax wrap, a cotton bag, and a reusable produce bag each do a different job. Check the wording on the listing, and count a PFAS claim only when the listing itself makes one.

Food storage options compared

Option	What the listing says	Best for	What it does not say
Razab glass containers	Borosilicate glass with BPA-free locking lids. The listing says the glass is freezer, microwave, and oven safe, and that the lids are not.	Leftovers and meal prep	It does not make a PFAS claim. The lid is plastic with a silicone seal.
KAMOTA mason jars	8 oz glass jars with silver lids. The listing says the jars are food-safe glass and that there is no BPA in the product materials.	Pantry, fridge, dry goods	It does not make a PFAS claim or an oven claim.
JOJUNO ceramic canisters	White ceramic with bamboo lids and a silicone ring. The listing calls them lead-free pantry storage and recommends hand washing the bamboo lids.	Flour, oats, rice, cereal	It does not make a PFAS claim.
Bee's Wrap	A 14-by-53-inch roll made from beeswax, organic plant oils, and tree resin. The listing says it can be hand washed, reused, and composted when finished.	Covering a bowl, wrapping bread, cheese, or produce	It does not say PFAS-free, and it is not a baking liner.
Organic cotton produce bags	100% organic cotton mesh. This directory's description calls them PFAS-free grocery bags.	Carrying fruits and vegetables	They are not a container for hot or greasy leftovers.
Debbie Meyer GreenBags	Reusable produce bags. The listing says they are made in the USA from BPA-free materials with FDA GRAS components and can be reused about 8 to 10 times.	Refrigerator produce	It says BPA-free. It does not say PFAS-free.

Glass containers

The Razab 24-piece set is the direct swap for a takeout box. Food sits in glass. Take the lid off before the container goes in the microwave or oven. The listing says the lids are not microwave or oven safe.

Jars and canisters

KAMOTA 8 oz mason jars suit smaller portions, sauces, and dry ingredients. The listing says they are food-safe glass with no BPA in the product materials. JOJUNO ceramic canisters are the countertop option. The listing describes lead-free ceramic, bamboo lids, and a silicone ring for dry goods such as flour and oats, and it recommends hand washing the lids.

Wraps and bags

Bee's Wrap is the reusable cover in this directory made from beeswax, organic plant oils, and tree resin. Use it on a bowl or around bread, cheese, or produce. It is not an oven liner, and the listing does not say PFAS-free.

Organic cotton produce bags are the food-storage entry whose description uses the words "PFAS-free." The directory text calls them PFAS-free grocery bags made from 100% organic cotton mesh.

Debbie Meyer GreenBags are a separate reusable produce bag. The listing says BPA-free and names FDA GRAS components. It does not say PFAS-free, so this guide does not call them PFAS-free either.

How should you handle takeout and leftovers?

Move food into glass before you store or reheat it. Pop popcorn in a covered pan. Line the baking sheet with parchment whose listing you have read.

1. Transfer takeout from the wrapper or box into a glass container first.
2. Skip the microwave popcorn bag.
3. Use the unbleached If You Care roll when you want a parchment liner.
4. Use cotton bags for produce and beeswax wrap for a washable cover.
5. Treat "BPA-free" and "PFAS-free" as separate claims.

Frequently asked questions

Does unbleached or compostable parchment mean it is PFAS-free?

No. Those words describe bleaching and whether the sheet is certified compostable. The If You Care listing says unbleached, totally chlorine-free, FSC certified, and certified compostable. It does not say PFAS-free. The FDA also says a total-fluorine test cannot tell PFAS from other fluorine-containing substances.

Did the FDA ban every PFAS that touches food?

No. The 2024 and 2025 actions cover PFAS grease-proofing agents on paper and paperboard food packaging. The FDA still describes other authorized uses, including nonstick cookware coatings, gaskets on food-processing equipment, and manufacturing aids, and it says those uses leave only negligible amounts that can migrate into food. Pan choices are in the PFAS-free cookware comparison.

Are microwave popcorn bags still allowed to use PFAS grease-proofing?

The FDA says those grease-proofing substances are no longer being sold for U.S. food-contact use. The 35 related notifications are no longer effective as of January 6, 2025, and the compliance date for certain packaging already produced was June 30, 2025. The FDA is using a screening method to monitor paper packaging. That monitoring is not a test of every bag in every store.

Is glass food storage PFAS-free?

The Razab listing describes borosilicate glass containers and BPA-free lids. It does not make a PFAS claim. Glass is not a grease-proofed paper. The lids are a separate plastic and silicone part, and the listing says they are not microwave or oven safe.

Are beeswax wraps a PFAS-free replacement for plastic wrap?

The Bee's Wrap listing says the roll is made from beeswax, organic plant oils, and tree resin, and that it can be washed, reused, and composted at the end. It does not say PFAS-free. It works as a bowl cover and as a wrap for bread, cheese, or produce.

Can a fluorine test prove baking paper is PFAS-free?

The FDA says total-fluorine methods only measure fluorine. They cannot tell PFAS from other fluorine-containing substances. A screening result is not the same thing as the FDA's decision on grease-proofing authorizations.

Bottom line

Use parchment for an unbleached, chlorine-free liner that lets cookies and vegetables release from the pan. Use glass for leftovers. The FDA's grease-proofing phase-out covers fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, take-out paperboard, and pet food bags, and those authorizations are no longer effective. Browse the picks in the non-toxic products directory.

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Sources

• U.S. FDA, FDA, Industry Actions End Sales of PFAS Used in US Food Packaging (February 28, 2024)
• U.S. FDA, Market Phase-Out of Grease-Proofing Substances Containing PFAS
• U.S. FDA, Authorized Uses of PFAS in Food Contact Applications
• U.S. FDA, FDA Determines Authorization for 35 Food Contact Notifications Related to PFAS Are No Longer Effective (January 3, 2025)
• Washington State Department of Ecology, PFAS in Food Packaging, describing the restriction in RCW 70A.222.070
• U.S. EPA, PFAS Explained
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, How PFAS Impacts Your Health
• "Fluorinated Compounds in U.S. Fast Food Packaging." Environmental Science & Technology Letters. 2017;4(3):105–111. Full text
• "Migration of fluorochemical paper additives from food-contact paper into foods and food simulants." Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A. 2008;25(3):384–390. PubMed 18311629
• "Perfluorochemicals: potential sources of and migration from food packaging." Food Additives and Contaminants. 2005;22(10):1023–1031. PubMed 16227186

For educational purposes only, not medical advice. Product descriptions reflect each manufacturer's listing in this site's product directory at the time of writing.

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