Are PFAS still showing up in fast-food wrappers and bakery boxes?

What's actually in it

PFAS, also called "forever chemicals," are added to paper packaging to keep grease and water from soaking through. Think burger wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, donut bags, and pizza box liners. They work great. They also stick around in your body for years.

Several big chains and packaging makers said they'd cut PFAS out by 2024. The reality on the shelf is messier. Smaller brands and imported packaging haven't followed, and "replacement" coatings sometimes turn out to be just shorter versions of the same chemicals.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Chemosphere tested a wide range of consumer food packaging including bakery papers, take-out containers, and fast-food wrappers. PFAS turned up in many samples, including ones marked compostable.

The team also found that PFAS rub off the paper into the food, especially the warm and oily stuff like fries and pastries. Hot food and long contact made the migration worse.

Skip wrapped fast food when you can. Bring leftovers home in a glass container instead of leaving them in the wrapper. For bakery, ask for the paper without the inner liner or move the food to a plate as soon as you get home.