If you run a restaurant, cafe, or catering business, “PFAS-free” has probably shown up on a supplier invoice, a state compliance notice, or a customer’s Instagram comment in the last year or two. It’s not a marketing buzzword you can safely ignore — a growing list of states have made intentionally added PFAS in food packaging illegal to sell, and the FDA has confirmed the primary source of these chemicals in U.S. food packaging has already left the market.
This guide breaks down what PFAS-free actually means, which states currently regulate it, what materials replace PFAS coatings without sacrificing grease and moisture resistance, and how to check whether your current supplies are already compliant.
Quick Answer
PFAS-free food packaging means the paper, molded fiber, or plastic used to wrap, box, or bowl your food contains no intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — the “forever chemicals” once used to make packaging grease- and water-resistant. As of 2026, roughly a dozen U.S. states restrict intentionally added PFAS in food packaging or foodservice ware, and the FDA has confirmed that PFAS grease-proofing agents are no longer being sold into the U.S. market for this use. If you buy takeout boxes, wrappers, bowls, or bags for a foodservice business, you need to confirm your supplier’s products are PFAS-free — not just assume they are.
What PFAS Is and Why It Was in Your Packaging
PFAS is a large family of synthetic chemicals prized for repelling grease, oil, and water — which is exactly why they were used for decades in molded fiber bowls, sandwich wrappers, pizza boxes, popcorn bags, and bakery bags. The problem is that PFAS compounds break down extremely slowly in the environment and in the body, earning the “forever chemicals” nickname, and research has linked long-term exposure to a range of health concerns.
In February 2024, the FDA announced that grease-proofing substances containing PFAS were no longer being sold into the U.S. market for use on paper and paperboard food packaging, following a voluntary phase-out commitment manufacturers made back in 2020. The FDA has also formally determined that dozens of food contact notifications tied to PFAS grease-proofers are no longer effective, since those uses have been abandoned. In short: the federal supply-side source is closing, but that doesn’t mean every product on every supplier’s shelf has already been reformulated — legacy stock and imported packaging can still contain PFAS.
State Bans You Need to Know About
Roughly a dozen states — including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington — have enacted laws restricting intentionally added PFAS in food packaging or foodservice ware. Several of these laws are already in effect (New York, California, and Washington were among the earliest, with others phasing in through 2024 and 2025), and Maine has additional plant-fiber packaging requirements taking effect in 2026.
The scope varies by state: some bans cover all food packaging and foodware, while others apply specifically to paper-based or molded-fiber packaging. If you operate in multiple states, or your packaging distributor ships nationally, the safest move is to require PFAS-free packaging across the board rather than trying to track which specific SKU is legal in which state. More states are actively considering similar bills, so today’s exemption may not last.
To check your exposure: pull your current packaging invoices, identify the manufacturer and product line for each grease-resistant item (wrappers, boxes, bowls, bags), and ask your supplier directly for a written PFAS-free certification or a Certificate of Compliance. Reputable manufacturers can provide this on request — if they can’t, treat that as a warning sign.
Tips and Common Mistakes
The biggest mistake operators make is assuming that “recyclable,” “compostable,” or “kraft paper” automatically means PFAS-free — none of those labels guarantee it, since PFAS coatings have historically been applied to compostable and kraft products too. Always ask for explicit PFAS-free certification in writing, not just an eco-label.
Common PFAS-free alternatives now on the market include molded fiber made from bagasse (a sugarcane byproduct) or wheat straw, which are naturally more oil-resistant and can be finished with water-based or bio-based barrier coatings instead of fluorinated ones. Some manufacturers use thermoforming processes on molded fiber to boost oil and grease resistance without any added coating, while others use plant-based or shellac-based barrier coatings on molded pulp. When testing a new PFAS-free product line, run it through your actual menu items first — a wrapper that holds up fine for a dry sandwich may fail with a greasy burger or saucy wings, so pilot with your highest-grease items before switching your whole inventory.
Also budget for a transition period: PFAS-free alternatives can cost more per unit than legacy PFAS-coated stock, and lead times may be longer as demand shifts industry-wide. Order samples early rather than waiting until a compliance deadline is imminent.
Explore more: Explore more sustainable packaging guides.
PFAS-free food packaging FAQs
Is all food packaging required to be PFAS-free now?
Not universally. Roughly a dozen states have laws restricting intentionally added PFAS in food packaging, with more considering similar legislation, and the FDA has confirmed PFAS grease-proofing substances are no longer sold into the U.S. market for that use. But there’s no single nationwide ban yet, so requirements depend on which states you operate in.
How can I tell if my current packaging contains PFAS?
Ask your supplier or manufacturer for a written PFAS-free certification or Certificate of Compliance for each product line. Labels like “compostable” or “recyclable” don’t confirm PFAS-free status on their own.
What materials replace PFAS coatings in food packaging?
Common alternatives include molded fiber from bagasse or wheat straw, water-based and bio-based barrier coatings, and thermoformed molded pulp — all designed to resist grease and moisture without fluorinated chemicals.
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Photo by Clair on Unsplash.