22 Surprising Fast Food Items That Won't Poison You With Toxic PFAS

Bummed about the latest report from Consumer Reports that found PFAS “forever chemicals” in the most popular fast food and fast-casual restaurants? I’m sure most of you are not shocked that fast food and fast-casual are using food packaging that contains toxic PFAS “forever chemicals.” (Note: They also included some grocery store packaging.) But there were 22 surprising fast food items that won’t poison you with PFAS. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like the safest cookware without PFAS “forever chemicals,” spices free from heavy metals, & best healthy snack bars, now join us for the Consumer Reports consumer study on indications of PFAS in the packaging of fast food and fast-casual restaurants (and some grocery stores) in the United States.

Disclosure: This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. This post also contains affiliate links.

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Fast Food Study Finds Indications of Toxic PFAS “Forever Chemicals” in Packaging of Popular Brands

Consumer Reports just released a study they commissioned on food packaging in fast-food restaurants, fast-casual restaurants, and grocery stores. This study encompassed food packaging items selected based on availability at stores in Connecticut, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, and Texas between August and November 2021. There were multiple samples of each product and the average was reported.

Here’s a quick list of the worst brands. These brands were reported to have the most PFAS by scoring over 100 parts per million (ppm) within their food packaging of different items. The idea is that the higher the level of PFAS the more likely that PFAS will leach into the food. Each one of these brands will need to lower the amount of PFAS they expose Californians by 2023 based on new consumer laws.

Arby’s
Burger King
Cava
Chick-fil-A
McDonald’s
Nathan’s
Sweetgreen
Taco Bell

We all know that fast food isn’t healthy and we aren’t suggesting you make a habit of eating it, however, between the Consumer Reports study and Mamavation’s own testing, we have identified 22 different items at several fast food and fast-casual restaurants that has items that did not have detectable indications of PFAS in their food packaging above 10ppm.

Potential Health Effects of Toxic PFAS “Forever Chemicals” in Fast Food

Toxic PFAS chemicals are incredibly useful giving us stain repellency, grease repellency, and water repellency. It’s no wonder they are used in fast food packaging. However, they are also very problematic to the environment and human health. The biggest problem is their persistence in the environment, meaning they stay around forever, which is why they were dubbed “forever chemicals” by scientists. According to epidemiologists, no amount of PFAS is safe because it accumulates within the body.

Here is the list of health problems (PFAS) perfluorinated chemicals are linked with.

reduction in immunity
metabolic diseases like obesity & diabetes
reduced vaccination response
cardiovascular disease
affect the growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children
increased risk of allergies & asthma in young children
lower a woman’s chance of getting pregnant
increase the chances of miscarriage
increase cholesterol levels
low sperm count
smaller penis size
increase the risk of cancer like testicular & kidney cancers

Our government believes PFAS is so problematic, it forced one dairy farmer to euthanize over 4,000 cows that were contaminated with this chemical. If you feel like you’ve been exposed to PFAS, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a division of Community Health Investigations has created this fact sheet to use when talking to your doctor.

Upcoming Laws & Legislation on Toxic PFAS in Food Packaging

States: Several states have made progress in restricting and banning PFAS in food packaging based on the assumption that such food packaging is leaching toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” into food. As of the fall of 2021, bans are about to sunset in the following states:

California
Connecticut
Maine
Minnesota
New York
Vermont
Washington

Federal: The Department of Defense is phasing out PFAS in all military Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) food packaging. The official date of sunset date is unknown.

Restaurant Brands Planning PFAS-Free Changes to Fast Food Packaging

After this study was published, several restaurant brands & retailers made commitments to make changes to their packaging products to reduce toxic PFAS chemicals and their exposure to their customers & workers. Based on work from Consumer Reports and our partners at the Mind the Store Campaign, partners of Toxic-Free Future, we’ve seen some great strides. Here are some of those brands that have made commitments to clean up their packaging so far.

Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Popeyes, announced plans to phase out these chemicals in its food packaging worldwide by 2025.
Chick-fil-A recently announced a similar commitment Wednesday evening on Twitter to phase out these chemicals in packaging by the end of this summer.
Starbucks announced last week to have no PFAS in food packaging by end of 2022 in the United States and 2023 internationally.

Want to Cut Down On Toxins in Food? Cook From Scratch at Home

Are you shocked that your favorite hamburgers or burrito bowl may be contaminated with PFAS “forever chemicals”? Your McDonald’s sandwich wrappers may not be that surprising, but Chipotle, using fiber salad bowls that look to be made from more sustainable materials, are surprising.

Don’t be shocked. Ultimately, things that are made to be sustainable, like recycled plastic & cane sugar fiber bowls, may present more problems with toxicity. The type of packaging they use is key, but also, having brands test their packaging independently is what’s most important.

So what is a family to do? You don’t have the resources to test all your fast food wrappers for indications of PFAS. The answer to your problem is very simple–cook it yourself from scratch to reduce PFAS exposure.

Cooking from scratch using ingredients you know and trust will lower the risks of PFAS compounds from mystery suppliers getting onto your plate. Higher levels of PFAS typically present themselves in food packaging, non-stick coating on kitchen cookware & appliances, and food processing additives. The more you “process” your food at home, the less these contaminants will sneak into your dinner.

Mamavation’s Investigation of Fast Food Packaging

We decided that instead of reporting the bad news to you about fast food being bad for you because I know you’ve heard that a thousand times before. What we are focusing on instead is the food packaging that did not contain indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.”

It is important to note that ALL items tested at the lab from the following fast-food chains had indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.” Not all of them represented high levels of PFAS, but they all had detectable levels. These are those brands.

Burger King
Cava
Chick-fil-A
Chipotle (However, Mamavation independently tested Chipotle in the greater Los Angeles area (before this study was published) in February of 2022 and all items we tested were non-detect including their Kids container bowl & burrito bowl. This is not unusual in the fast-food industry because many changes and processes can be localized to different geological areas. So we believe Chipotle may be cleaning up their food packaging starting on the West Coast where laws have been passed already and will sunset soon. Because of this, we are including Chipotle [greater Los Angeles] in our findings but these findings were not part of the Consumer Reports data. They are all from Mamavation and our own commission of product testing.)
Freshii
Panera Bread
Popeyes
Roy Rogers
Shake Shack
Sweet Green

Not Our Favorite Fast Food Packaging — Higher Detections of Toxic PFAS

These fast food establishments had items that tested for indications of total organic fluorine content above 100 parts per million (ppm), which is a marker of PFAS “forever chemicals.” We do not recommend you eat these items at all based on the persistence of this chemical in fast food and at grocery chains.

Not Our Favorite Fast Food Packaging

Arby’s Bag for cookies (457.5 ppm organic fluorine)
Burger King Bag for cookies, French toast sticks (345.7 ppm organic fluorine)
Burger King Wrapper for Whopper (249.7 ppm organic fluorine)
Burger King Bag for chicken nuggets (165 ppm organic fluorine)
Cava Fiber tray for kids meal (548 ppm organic fluorine)
Cava Fiber bowl for grains, salad (508.3 ppm organic fluorine)
Cava Wrapper for mini Pita, pita Sandwich (280 ppm organic fluorine)
Cava Bag for pita chips (260 ppm organic fluorine)
Cava Wrapper for pitas (202 ppm organic fluorine)
Chick-fil-A Wrapper for sandwich wrap (553.5 ppm organic fluorine)
McDonald’s Bag for french fries (250.3 ppm organic fluorine)
McDonald’s Bag for cookies (250 ppm organic fluorine)
McDonald’s Bag for Chicken McNuggets (219 ppm organic fluorine)
McDonald’s Container for Big Mac (195.3 ppm organic fluorine)
Nathan’s Famous Bag for sides, green stripe (876 ppm organic fluorine)
Nathan’s Famous Bag for sides, red stripe (618 ppm organic fluorine)
Nathan’s Famous Wrapper for sandwich (104 ppm organic fluorine)
Sweetgreen Paper bag for focaccia (288 ppm organic fluorine)
Taco Bell Paper bag for chips (145 ppm organic fluorine)

Not Our Favorite Grocery Packaging

Stop & Shop Paper plates, bamboo (368.7 ppm organic fluorine)
Stop & Shop Paper plates, grease-resistant (226.7 ppm organic fluorine)
Trader Joe’s Bakery box for pancake bread (167 ppm organic fluorine)

Better Fast Food Packaging

These fast-food restaurant chain brands had items that tested for indications of PFAS below 100 parts per million. The detection level on the organic fluorine testing was likely between 8.5 and 10 parts per million. We do not recommend you eat these items at all based on the persistence of this chemical. Technically anything at this level of indication of PFAS would be able to be certified “compostable” or “non-toxic” by food packaging certifiers looking for PFAS. In other words, this contamination level is not considered intentionally added, however, caution is still warranted because of the persistence of the chemicals.

Better Fast Food Packaging

Arby’s Wrapper for sandwich wrap (32 ppm organic fluorine)
Arby’s Wrapper for Classic Roast Beef sandwich (12 ppm organic fluorine)
Arby’s Wrapper for Classic Beef ’N Cheddar sandwich (8.5 ppm organic fluorine)
Burger King’s Container for french fries (13 ppm organic fluorine)
Burger King’s Container for chicken, french fries (12 ppm organic fluorine)
Burger King’s Container for tater tots (8.5 ppm organic fluorine)
Cava Wrapper for sides (13.3 ppm organic fluorine)
Checkers Container for french fries (27 ppm organic fluorine)
Checkers Wrapper for chicken, hamburger (15 ppm organic fluorine)
Chick-Fil-A Bag for sandwich, foil-lined (10.5 ppm organic fluorine)
Chick-fil-A Container for sides (8.5 ppm organic fluorine)
Chipotle Fiber bowl with four compartments (35.5 ppm organic fluorine)
Chipotle Wrapper for burrito (26.3 ppm organic fluorine)
Chipotle Fiber bowl for sides, meals (11.7 ppm organic fluorine)
Five Guys Wrapper for hamburger, aluminum foil (8 ppm organic fluorine)
Freshii Fiber bowl for salad (16.7 ppm organic fluorine)
Freshii Wrapper for burritos, wraps (9.7 ppm organic fluorine)
In-N-Out Burger Wrapper Cover (36 ppm organic fluorine)(Note: this is data from independent findings from Mamavation from testing done in 2020. This data is not from Consumer Reports)
In-N-Out Burger Wrapper (32 ppm organic fluorine)(Note: This is data from independent findings from Mamavation from testing done in 2020. This data is not from Consumer Reports)
McDonald’s Wrapper for double cheeseburger (15 ppm organic fluorine)
McDonald’s Container for Chicken McNuggets (13 ppm organic fluorine)
McDonald’s Container for french fries (7.5 ppm organic fluorine)
McDonald’s Wrapper for Egg McMuffin (7 ppm organic fluorine)
Nathan’s Famous Container for hamburger (42 ppm organic fluorine)
Nathan’s Famous Container for hot dog (9.8 ppm organic fluorine)
Panera Bread Container for flatbread pizza (82 ppm organic fluorine)
Panera Bread Bag for baguette (35.7 ppm organic fluroine)
Panera Bread Wrapper for sandwich (30.3 ppm organic fluorine)
Popeye’s Bag for french fries (9.3 ppm organic fluorine)
Popeye’s Bag for sandwich, foil-lined (7 ppm organic fluorine)
Roy Rogers Wrapper for hamburger, foil-lined (29 ppm organic fluorine)
Roy Rogers Container for french fries (12.5 ppm organic fluorine)
Roy Roger’s Wrapper for breakfast sandwich (10.5 ppm organic fluorine)
Roy Roger’s Container for baked beans (8 ppm organic fluorine)
Shake Shack Container for hamburger (10.5 ppm organic fluorine)
Shake Shack Container for hot dog (10.3 ppm organic fluorine)
Shake Shack Container for french fries (8.3 ppm organic fluorine)
Shake Shack Container for chicken nuggets (7 ppm organic fluorine)
Smashburger Wrapper for breakfast sandwich (9.5 ppm organic fluorine)
Sweetgreen Fiber bowl for salad (9.3 ppm organic fluorine)
Sweetgreen Fiber bowl for sides, meals (8.8 ppm organic fluorine)
Taco Bell Wrapper for taco (10 ppm organic fluorine)
Taco Bell Wrapper for burrito (9.3 ppm organic fluorine)
Wendy’s Wrapper for hamburger (16.5 ppm organic fluorine)
Wendy’s Paper bag for cookies (10.3 ppm organic fluorine)
White Castle Container for clam strips (26 ppm organic fluorine)
White Castle Container for hamburger (14 ppm organic fluorine)

Better Grocery Packaging

Hannaford Bakery plate under cake (23.3 ppm organic fluorine)
Kroger Baking cups (51 ppm organic fluorine)
Kroger Tray for take-and-bake double pepperoni pizza (15 ppm organic fluorine)
Stop & Shop Tray for store-brand thin-crust extra cheese pizza (23.3 ppm organic fluorine)
Stop & Shop Baking cups, pastel (22 ppm organic fluorine)
Stop & Shop Bakery tray under cake, round (12 ppm organic fluorine)
Trader Joe’s Bakery tray under Patisserie de Chocolat Cake (12.5 ppm organic fluorine)
Trader Joe’s Bowl for frozen chicken pot pie (10.5 ppm organic fluorine)
Whole Foods Market Container for soup (21 ppm organic fluorine)
Whole Foods market Wrapper for salted butter (15 ppm organic fluorine)
Whole Foods Market Takeout container (14 ppm organic fluorine)
Whole Foods Market Bakery plate under cake (13.3 ppm organic fluorine)
Whole Foods Market Bakery parchment paper, 365 Whole Foods Market brand (13 ppm organic fluorine)
Whole Foods Market Wrapper for sandwich (12.2 ppm organic fluorine)

Best Fast Food & Grocery Packaging Avoiding Toxic PFAS

These fast food items did not show indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” and came back with non-detect results as reported by Consumer Reports. This means that if there is PFAS in the food packaging of this item, it’s below 10 parts per million and would not be detected by the lab. If you were to walk into these restaurants, this would be the safer bet of what to order based on the very real possibility of PFAS “forever chemicals” leaching into the food items. Note, we are only reporting on what was tested in the laboratory and other items that are considered “healthy choices” if they were not tested at the laboratory.

Best Fast Food Packaging

Arby’s Container for french fries— non-detect results
Arby’s Container for sliders— non-detect results
Checkers Container for chili dog–non-detect results
Checkers Container for chicken bites with french fries–non-detect results
Chipotle Container for Kids Meal (Greater Los Angeles only via Mamavation’s independent commission of food packaging labs) — non-detect results
Chipotle Container for Burrito Bowl (Greater Los Angeles only via Mamavation’s independent commission of food packaging labs) — non-detect results
Five Guys Container for french fries — non-detect results
Five Guys Wrapper for vegetable sandwich, aluminum foil — non-detect results
Five Guys Wrapper for hot dog, aluminum foil — non-detect results
In-N-Out French Fries Container (via independent testing commissioned from Mamavation in 2020. Not from Consumer Reports.) — non-detect results
McDonald’s Wrapper for McChicken sandwich — non-detect results
Nathan’s Famous Container for fish sandwich — non-detect results
Nathan’s Famous Container for french fries — non-detect results
Nathan’s Famous Container for shrimp sandwich — non-detect results
SmashBurger Container for french fries — non-detect results
SmashBurger Wrapper for hamburger — non-detect results
Taco Bell Takeout container for Chicken Power Bowl, plastic — non-detect results
Wendy’s Container for french fries, chicken nuggets, junior — non-detect results
Wendy’s Container for french fries, chicken nuggets, medium — non-detect results
White Castle Container for sides, small — non-detect results
White Castle Container for sides, medium — non-detect results
White Castle Container for fried sides — non-detect results

Best for Grocery Store Packaging

Hannaford Baking nonstick aluminum foil — non-detect results
Hannaford Paper plates, grease-resistant — non-detect results
Hannaford Bakery sheet — non-detect results
Kroger Paper plates, grease-resistant — non-detect results
Kroger Baking liner for muffins — non-detect results
Stop & Shop Wrapper for unsalted butter — non-detect results
Stop & Shop Bakery tray under cake, rectangular — non-detect results
Stop & Shop Bakery box for bakery items — non-detect results
Stop & Shop Baking cups, party design — non-detect results
Stop & Shop Wrapper for sandwich — non-detect results
Stop & Shop Bakery sheet — non-detect results
Stop & Shop Bakery cup for muffin — non-detect results
Trader Joe’s Bakery cups for chocolate chip muffins — non-detection results
Trader Joe’s Wrapper for unsalted butter — non-detection results
Trader Joe’s Wrapper for cultured salted butter — non-detection results
Trader Joe’s Tray for frozen 5 Cheese Greek Spiral — non-detection results
Trader Joe’s Container for Chantilly Cream Vanilla Bean Mini Sheet Cake (via independent testing commissioned from Mamavation in November 2021. Not from Consumer Reports data.) — non-detect results
Whole Food Market Bakery cup for muffin — non-detect results
Whole Food Market Bakery sheet — non-detect results

PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Are Ubiquitous Inside the Home

PFAS, otherwise known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (aka PFCs or perfluorinated chemicals, including PFOA and PFOS) are added to many products we purchase to make them “stain-resistant,” “grease-proof,” and “water-resistant.” In terms of food, it’s not added purposely, but more a contamination happening in trace amounts coming from manufacturing chemicals and processes. Here are some of the other products you’ll find them in that are inside or around your home:

Food packaging: they are used in popcorn bags, pizza boxes, fast food canisters & wrappers, and the flat dish on the bottom of cakes at the grocery store.
Building Materials: They are also in carpeting, flooring, artificial turf, sealants, & roofing
Fabrics & Clothing: used on clothing as “stain-proof” and “water-proof” agents like yoga pants and sports bras & also other fabrics in your home like furniture.
Cookware: You can also find them on non-stick pans
Kitchen Appliances: Some small kitchen appliances coat PFAS on surfaces to keep things from sticking like most air fryers
Personal Care: You’ll find them in your personal care like some tooth flosses, and cosmetics
Menstrual Products: You’ll also find them in about 65% of period underwear, according to Mamavation’s own consumer study.
Mattresses: Even your mattress can contain PFAS chemicals but these types of mattresses do not.
Indoor Dust: PFAS chemicals stick to dust particles so the more dust you have in your home, the more likely there is PFAS in the air you breathe. Here’s our tips on how to prevent all that.

Other Mamavation PFAS Testing Projects

Mamavation has been working hard to discover where to find PFAS “forever chemicals” inside food & other products we purchase and bring inside our homes. This is why we have decided to commission our own consumer studies on indications of PFAS in different consumer categories and share that information with you.

We also have other investigations you may like.