Are grease-proof paper plates and bowls treated with PFAS forever chemicals?

What's actually in it

Paper plates, bowls, and food wraps that resist grease and oil often contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These are sometimes called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down in the environment or in your body. Manufacturers add PFAS coatings to paper products so grease won't soak through.

You can't see, smell, or taste PFAS. The plate looks and feels like regular paper. But when hot, greasy food sits on it, those chemicals can transfer directly into your meal.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Food Addit Contam developed better methods to measure total organic fluorine in food packaging. This approach catches all PFAS compounds, not just the handful that older tests look for. The researchers found that many products marketed as grease-proof contained detectable fluorine levels, confirming the presence of PFAS.

What makes this study important is the testing method itself. Standard tests only check for a short list of individual PFAS compounds. But there are thousands of PFAS chemicals, and many are invisible to traditional screening. By measuring total organic fluorine, the researchers showed that the real contamination is higher than what older tests revealed.

PFAS exposure has been linked to thyroid problems, immune system suppression, elevated cholesterol, and certain cancers. Kids are more vulnerable because their bodies are smaller and still developing.

If a paper plate repels grease, there's a good chance it contains PFAS. Switching to plain, uncoated paper products or ceramic plates avoids this exposure entirely.