Food Packaging Enters a Post-PFAS Era

The FDA confirms PFAS grease barriers are off the market, accelerating adoption of proven PFAS-free food packaging across the US

23 Jan 2026

A quiet but consequential change is rippling through US food packaging, and it is happening faster than many expected.

The Food and Drug Administration has confirmed that PFAS-based grease-proofing substances are no longer being sold for use in food packaging. The move followed voluntary industry action rather than a formal ban. Some legacy inventory may still circulate, but the commercial pipeline has effectively closed.

For packaging suppliers and food brands alike, this is more than a technical footnote. It marks a market reset. PFAS chemistry has long been the invisible workhorse behind grease-resistant paper and fiber, from burger wraps to bakery liners. With new sales gone, the industry must deliver alternatives that match performance without raising the same safety concerns.

That challenge is not simple. Packaging still needs to withstand heat, oil, and rough handling. At the same time, customers are demanding cleaner chemistry and clearer assurances. The result is a rapid reshaping of product development, supplier relationships, and procurement standards. Sustainability, once defined mainly by recyclability and material reduction, now also centers on removing substances that persist in the environment.

The FDA’s framing matters. By confirming the shift as industry-led, the agency reduced uncertainty for brands waiting for clearer signals. Compliance expectations are now easier to read. For suppliers, the competitive stakes have risen sharply. Those with validated, scalable PFAS-free solutions are gaining momentum, while others are scrambling to respond.

Legacy fluorinated chemistry companies face mounting pressure as customers revise specifications. At the same time, fiber-based innovators are expanding commercial wins with PFAS-free molded fiber and paper packaging, particularly in foodservice. Adoption is no longer experimental. It is becoming mainstream.

The transition will have friction. State PFAS rules continue to vary, and definitions of “PFAS-free” depend on testing thresholds. National brands need packaging that performs consistently across jurisdictions.

Even so, the direction is clear. Safer chemistry is becoming a strategic advantage rather than a compliance checkbox. The next generation of food packaging leaders will be those that move quickly, prove performance, and communicate trust with confidence.