Which Butter Does Not Have PFAS? A Consumer’s Guide

January 12, 2026 •

3 min read

A recent study from Mamavation found indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” in 50% of the butter wrappers tested from various brands. This discovery has raised consumer awareness, leading many to question which butter does not have PFAS and how they can best protect themselves from potential contamination.

Quick Summary

Explores how PFAS enters butter through packaging and environmental pathways. Details specific butter brands found with lower PFAS indicators in wrappers and provides practical tips for selecting safer options.

Key Points

Packaging is a Primary Risk: Many butter wrappers use PFAS for grease resistance, which can leach into the fatty food, although this practice is being phased out.
Environmental Contamination Matters: Cows can accumulate PFAS from contaminated water and feed, which can be passed into their milk and subsequently into butter.
Tested Brands Offer Safer Options: Independent lab tests have identified brands like Trader Joe's, Straus Family, and 365 Whole Foods with low to no PFAS indicators in their wrappers.
Non-Paper Packaging Reduces Risk: Choosing butter sold in tubs, foil, or glass jars eliminates the contamination risk associated with paper wrappers.
Homemade Butter is the Safest Bet: Making your own butter from trusted cream sources is the best way to avoid packaging-related PFAS exposure.
Consider Clarified Butter: Ghee or clarified butter, which removes milk solids, might offer a safer option, though the source of the original milk is still important.
Stay Informed: As regulations and product testing continue to evolve, staying up-to-date on research is the most effective way to protect yourself from PFAS in butter.

Understanding the Source of PFAS in Butter

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of synthetic chemicals prized for their resistance to grease, oil, and water. Their application in food packaging, particularly paper and cardboard, is a primary route for contamination. For butter, which is a high-fat product, this risk is particularly pronounced as PFAS can more easily migrate from grease-proof wrappers into the fatty food. Beyond packaging, contamination can also occur through environmental pathways:

Contaminated Feed and Water: Dairy cows can ingest PFAS from contaminated drinking water or feed grown on land where biosolids (treated sewage sludge containing PFAS) have been used as fertilizer. The chemicals can then accumulate in the cow's system and be passed into its milk, which is used to produce butter.
Manufacturing Processes: While less common, contamination can also happen during the manufacturing process if equipment is treated with PFAS-containing materials.

Thankfully, with growing consumer awareness and increased regulation, many brands are phasing out these chemicals. As of February 2024, the FDA has worked with the industry to complete a voluntary market phase-out of all remaining grease-proofing agents containing PFAS used in food packaging.

Butter Brands with Low or No PFAS Indicators

To help consumers make informed decisions, organizations like Million Marker, in collaboration with Mamavation, have conducted independent testing on butter wrappers. A study published in 2023 tested 32 wrappers from 22 brands for fluorine, an indicator of PFAS presence. The brands listed below were found to have low or no detectable levels of fluorine in their wrappers, based on this specific study:

365 Whole Foods
Clover Sonoma
Horizon Organic
Nature's Promise
Straus Family
Trader Joe's

These findings suggest that many manufacturers are moving towards safer, PFAS-free packaging alternatives. However, it is important for consumers to remember that testing results can vary over time and may not be representative of all products from a single brand.

Brands with Detectable PFAS Indicators

In contrast, the same 2023 study found detectable levels of fluorine in the wrappers of other brands. These findings do not necessarily mean the butter itself is contaminated, but rather that there is a potential for leaching from the packaging. Some of the brands with detected fluorine included:

HEB Organic
Kate's
Kerrygold
Kirkland Signature
Maple Hill Organic
Organic Valley
Wegmans

How to Reduce Your Risk from Butter and Other Foods

For those who want to minimize their exposure to PFAS, there are several proactive steps you can take:

Choose Non-Paper Packaging: Opt for butter sold in tubs, glass jars, or foil-wrapped blocks instead of paper-wrapped sticks.
Make Your Own Butter: The most surefire way to avoid packaging contamination is to make butter at home using organic, grass-fed cream sourced from farms known to be PFAS-free, if possible.
Scrutinize Packaging: Be wary of packaging labeled as 'greaseproof' or 'water-resistant,' as these often indicate the presence of a PFAS coating.
Support Informed Brands: Look for brands that explicitly state they use PFAS-free packaging. Some companies voluntarily announce their commitment to safer packaging.

Comparative Analysis of Butter Options


Butter Type	Packaging	Production Method	Potential PFAS Risk	Notes
Standard Wrapped Butter	Paper/Paperboard	Conventional	Higher	Risk from grease-proof paper packaging.
Tested PFAS-Free Wrapper	Paper/Paperboard	Varies	Lower	Based on third-party testing, still subject to potential environmental contamination.
Tubbed or Jarred Butter	Plastic Tub or Glass Jar	Varies	Low to None	Avoids paper packaging contamination route; risk remains from raw milk source.
Homemade Butter	None	Your control	Very Low	Eliminates packaging risk; quality depends on cream source and storage.
Clarified Butter (Ghee)	Glass Jar/Tub	Heated, milk solids removed	Lower	The processing may remove some components, but origin of milk is still key.

Conclusion

While it is challenging to guarantee a product is 100% free of PFAS due to widespread environmental contamination, consumers have more power than ever to make safer choices. The primary risk from butter appears to be linked to its grease-proof paper packaging, a practice that is already being phased out due to FDA action and manufacturer commitments. Choosing brands that have tested low for PFAS indicators in their wrappers or opting for alternative packaging can significantly reduce your exposure. For the lowest risk, making your own butter is the most effective method. As regulation evolves, staying informed and prioritizing transparency from food producers remains the best strategy for protecting your health. For more general guidance on reducing chemical exposure from food packaging, Toxic-Free Future is a reliable resource.

Frequently Asked Questions

PFAS can enter butter in two main ways: by leaching from grease-proof paper wrappers into the fatty product, or through environmental contamination of dairy cows via their feed and water, which then passes into their milk.

No, not all paper-wrapped butter is contaminated. Independent testing has shown that some brands' wrappers contain PFAS indicators while others do not. The FDA has also worked to phase out PFAS-containing grease-proofing agents from food packaging.

Not necessarily. Organic certification primarily focuses on farming practices (e.g., no pesticides, antibiotics). While some organic brands use PFAS-free packaging, environmental contamination from the soil or water, or the use of PFAS in packaging materials, can still affect organic products.

You generally cannot tell by looking, as PFAS are not listed on labels. Some brands are voluntarily transparent about their use of PFAS-free packaging. A simple 'bead test' can indicate the presence of PFAS on some materials, but it is not definitive.

Homemade butter is one of the safest options for avoiding PFAS, as it eliminates the risk of packaging contamination. To minimize risk further, you can source cream from a local farm with transparent environmental practices regarding feed and water.

According to a 2023 study by Million Marker/Mamavation, brands including 365 Whole Foods, Clover Sonoma, Horizon Organic, Nature's Promise, Straus Family, and Trader Joe's were found to have low or no detectable levels of total fluorine in their wrappers.

Choosing butter in a plastic tub, glass jar, or foil wrapping is a safer choice than paper-wrapped butter, as it avoids the potential for PFAS leaching from grease-proof paper wrappers. Glass is often considered the safest non-packaging option.