Allen’s Apple, Blueberry and Cherry Pie shown in Sugarcane fiber bowls made by Eco-Products.

If you’ve visited my Instagram or website recently you may have seen a message stating that I’ve paused my operations in order to find new packaging that is PFAS-free. I have always lauded the “green" nature of my compostable bowls, recyclable plastic lids, and plant-based sporks. I was so proud that I was going to create a page dedicated to the sustainability of the packaging. I felt I had enough information but wanted just a little more detail for my readers. That's when everything changed.

I first looked for information with my usual supplier. When I couldn’t find much, I decided to google the product number. That's when it appeared on another site with a Prop 65 warning. After a little more digging, I discovered a well-known article published by The Counter in 2019. It was about molded plant fiber bowls used by Chipotle and Sweet Green. The article mentioned the negative health effects of PFAS. This was interesting enough, but what really got my attention was a follow up article that mentioned Chipotle and Sweet Green would stop using the bowls by the end of 2020 and have already been phased out in San Francisco. I followed up by looking for information from the FDA, EPA, and CDC. All sites mentioned how bad PFAS was, so I decided to stop using the bowls that day and shut down my site until I could find safer packaging. Before we go down the rabbit hole of how I searched for safer products let’s dive into what exactly PFAS is and why they are a health hazard.

PFAS is an acronym for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They include a group of chemicals used in many applications from cookware to paper food containers and firefighting foam. PFAS has been used for decades for multiple applications. In food containers, they are used to stop grease and liquids from seeping through the container.

The main issues with PFAS include:

They do not degrade naturally
They bioaccumulation
They cause health issues

As mentioned before these products are used in paper food containers. This includes takeout boxes, bowls, cups etc. The most disturbing application is to products containing materials purchased because they are biodegradable or recyclable. While the material such a plant-based fiber may be biodegradable, PFAS is not. Adding this compound to biodegradable products makes it virtually impossible to compost outside of a commercial facility. These facilities have to maintain enough heat and humidity to separate the compound from the cup or bowl. Also, composting these products can release PFAS into the environment including drinking water. I can only imagine how much energy this would take. PFAS has also been used in fire fighting foam. Drinking water near some firefighting training facilities have been known to have been contaminated. Some states have passed legislation to ban the use of PFAS for this reason.

At this point I should point out that this isn’t just a problem form compostable products. PFAS has been used for decades in food packaging of nearly all types. For years the unhealthy effects of fast food has solely been attributed to the processed food itself. Equally hazardous, is the food packaging. When you consider the disproportionate presence of fast food chains in poor communities the inevitable impact is ominous and clear.

Bioaccumulation is what it sounds like. Because PFAS doesn't degrade naturally, it stays in the environment and in your body for a long time.

Some known health issues include:

Increased cholesterol
Resistance to Vaccines
Complications with reproductive health

I knew I had to find more information, but at this point, I had enough to know I didn’t want this compound getting to my customers. As I started to look for new products, I began with my current supplier. I simply asked if the product I was using contained any PFAS. They responded quickly and told me they were aware of public concern over PFAS, and they were working to phase it out of all their products. Unfortunately, the bowls I use would remain the same for the foreseeable future. Fortunately, one of the resources that pointed out the dangers of PFAS was also a good resource for finding safe products. GoodStartPackaging.com has a comprehensive list of PFAS-free products.

I started searching for bagasse bowls from different suppliers. Everyone was very responsive when I asked about PFAS. It seems like every company had a prepared statement to address public concern due to that article published in 2019. Some products still used PFAS, but a few were PFAS-free and they were able to send me samples in a week. One bowl was incredibly secure with a very tight lid, a problem I had with my old bowls, but it was too big and made my pies look small. The other product is a take-out box. This provided a new challenge. A bowl helps maintain the shape of the pie, something a relatively large box couldn’t accomplish. Why does this matter?

Allen’s Blueberry, Cherry, and Apple Pie shown in new packaging; takeout Bio Plus Earth Take out boxes made by westrock.

As I may have mentioned in previous blogs, one of the key differences in my pies is what’s not included. Most pie fillings have the consistency of jelly or jam. A traditional slice of pie is in the shape of a 3 dimensional triangle. The filling is exposed as soon as you take a piece. Cornstarch, flour, and pectin are examples of ingredients added to thicken the filling. Have you ever tasted cornstarch? Have you ever tasted raw flour? First of all, don’t; secondly, it’s inert, flavorless, like water. Have you ever tasted a half teaspoon of sugar? This, you can do. It’s so sweet, right. Now, add it to an 8oz glass of water. Next, try a 16oz glass. You can definitely taste the difference even if you can no longer taste the sugar. Now ask yourself. How much sugar would you have to add for that 16oz glass of water to taste like that half teaspoon of sugar with every sip. Sugar doesn’t care, water doesn’t either, they know they both exist even if your taste buds need a little convincing. Now imagine you have sugar, but instead of water, you have cornstarch. How much more sugar would I have to add to each pie if I included cornstarch. Is it worth it to dilute the flavor and add unneeded calories simply so it’s less messy? I decided it wasn’t. This is where geometry comes into play. A circle is better than a triangle when it comes to pie. The filling has nowhere to go. It’s surrounded by 360 degrees of crust. My pies are filled with fruit, not fruit filling.

Getting back to PFAS, every supplier has either said that they don’t use PFAS or that they are working to phase it out. I’m not the type to wait for a regulation to set a minimum standard for safety. That being said, there has been some political and legal action to phase it out from some states. New York Attorney General, Letitia James has been leading an effort to address PFAS. However, some groups have lobbied to halt regulation of the compound.

So what does this mean for Allen’s Pie, and what impact does this have on my customers? Although I have found a new sugarcane fiber bowl that is PFAS-free, for the time being I have decided to immediately use Bio Plus Earth Boxes created by WestRock. Next, I’ll switch to Bio Boxes created by Sunset, a Dowell Holding company. I have confirmed with both manufactures that they do not contain PFAS. However, take Out Boxes are not recyclable according to the New York City Department of Sanitation.

Moving forward, I will continue to use packaging that is free of PFAS. I will continue to search for packaging that is recyclable in NYC and hopefully compostable outside of a commercial facility. As more customers become familiar with my product I may use that larger bowl I mentioned earlier. Please share your insight on this blog and feel free to add any suggestions for packaging that are safe, recyclable, and fit my product and your needs.

UPDATES:

12/03/2020, New York banned PFAS! Click Here for details!

08/11/2021, Washing Post publishes article about PFAS in Make-up

10/03/2021, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver hosts an episode about PFAS

10/19/2021, EPA to regulate PFAS

Allen's Pie now with PFAS-free packaging.

Allen’s Pie LLC