FDA Announces Completion of PFAS Phase-Out in US Food Packaging
The FDA confirmed that grease-proofing materials containing PFAS are no longer being sold for use in food packaging in the United States, completing a voluntary phase-out by manufacturers.
What Happened
In February 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that grease-proofing materials containing PFAS are no longer being sold for use in food contact packaging in the United States. This completed a voluntary phase-out by manufacturers that the FDA had been coordinating.
The announcement marks the end of a multi-year transition during which manufacturers moved away from PFAS-containing grease-proofing agents used in fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, and other food packaging.
Why It Matters
This is one of the first completed phase-outs of PFAS from a specific product category in the United States. It demonstrates that coordinated industry action can eliminate PFAS from certain applications without regulatory mandates.
The phase-out applies to food packaging, not cookware. However, it reflects a broader trend of reducing PFAS use across consumer products.
What It Means for Cookware
This phase-out does not directly affect cookware. It applies to food packaging materials, not to cookware coatings.
However, the FDA's action is part of a broader regulatory context in which PFAS use across consumer products is being scrutinised. Cookware with PFAS-based non-stick coatings remains legal in the United States, though some states have enacted their own restrictions.
What Is Still Unclear
The FDA's announcement applies specifically to food packaging grease-proofing agents. It does not constitute a broader ban on PFAS in cookware or other product categories.
Further regulatory actions at the federal or state level may address PFAS in other applications, including cookware coatings.
Titan's Take
This phase-out applies to food packaging, not cookware. For an overview of PFAS terminology and how it relates to cookware, see our safety guide.