Is it safe to eat pizza from a pizza box every week?
Not really. Most pizza boxes are treated with PFAS to resist grease. Weekly pizza means weekly PFAS exposure.
What's actually in it
Grease-resistant paper, like the inside of a pizza box or fast-food wrapper, is usually treated with PFAS. Hot, fatty food pulls the chemicals straight into the pizza. The hotter and greasier, the more transfer.
Some U.S. states and a handful of national chains have phased out PFAS-treated food packaging. Most have not. Without a label, there's no way for a customer to know.
What the research says
A 2025 study in Adv Sci linked PTFE-related chemical exposure in mice to lower sperm quality. A related 2025 paper showed PFAS-related particles cause oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and DNA breaks in gut cells.
For weekly pizza night, pick a chain that advertises PFAS-free packaging, transfer slices off the box onto a plate the second you get home, or make pizza on a stone at home.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic Repair of Sperm Quality Decline Caused by Polytetrafluoroethylene. | Adv Sci (Weinh) | 2025 |
| Polytetrafluoroethylene microplastics and nanoplastics induce oxidative stress in human intestinal cells. | J Hazard Mater | 2025 |
What to use instead
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