Is it safe to eat Chinese takeout from a standard takeout box?
Use caution. Takeout boxes are better than foam, but hot saucy food should not sit in coated paperboard for long.
What's actually in it
Standard takeout boxes are paperboard. Many also use a coating so sauces and oil do not leak through. The coating varies by supplier, and not every box is PFAS-treated.
Hot, saucy, oily food is the reason to be careful. It touches the coating while the food is warm, then may sit there during the trip home.
What the research says
A 2017 U.S. fast-food packaging study in Environ Sci Technol Lett found detectable fluorine in 20% of paperboard samples and 46% of food-contact papers.
A 2021 review in Foods reported that PFAS are used in some food-contact materials for fat and moisture resistance, and that migration from food-contact materials into food is a direct exposure route.
Do not stress over occasional takeout. When you get home, move the food to a glass, stainless steel, or porcelain bowl. Store leftovers in glass instead of the takeout box.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Fluorinated Compounds in U.S. Fast Food Packaging. | Environ Sci Technol Lett | 2017 |
| Presence of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Food Contact Materials (FCM) and Its Migration to Food. | Foods | 2021 |